Cleveland Browns: Whose roster spot will Sheehy-Guiseppi take?

Cleveland Browns’ punt returner Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi has been the story of preseason Week 1, but what’s his path to a spot on the 53-man roster?

The Cleveland Browns may have a diamond in the rough in punt returner Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi. The JUCO product went from talking his way into a Browns tryout into returning a punt 86-yards for a touchdowns.

But can general manager John Dorsey and first-year head coach Freddie Kitchens find a way to squeeze him on the roster?

Antonio Callaway‘s suspension certainly helps Sheehy’s chances, but he’s still hurt by his lack of reps playing wide receiver.

Which is why Sheehy’s path to the final 53-man roster may come via the Browns keeping seven wideouts.

Dorsey’s going to keep at least six. OBJ, Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins are locks for the top three spots. Jaelan Strong probably owns the fourth spot, while Derrick Willies should be the fifth.

Competing for the sixth spot are Damion Ratley, Ishmael Hyman and D.J. Montgomery. The Browns really like all of these players. Ratley’s been injured with a muscle injury but is a former Dorsey draft pick.

If Sheehy is kept as a seventh wideout, who goes?

"“I look at the tight ends and I don’t see much there. I don’t see them running a lot of two tight-end sets like we thought they might, ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi said via TheLandonDemand.com. “If you only keep three tight ends instead of four, you can then keep a seventh receiver, which in my mind would be Sheehy, based on his punt returning abilities.”"

David Njoku has a hold on the top tight end spot, but new acquisition Demetrius Harris and Seth DeValve have been out with concussions, leaving John Carlson, Pharaoh Brown, and the recently acquired Rico Gathers to fill out the roster.

To Grossi’s point, the Browns just haven’t been running two tight-end sets and looking deeper at the position and DeValve is the obvious weak link. He’s not a Dorsey draft pick and can’t get through a Training Camp without sustaining some type of injury. Harris  was signed by Dorsey this past offseason, likely giving him the edge to stay if the general manager has to pick between the two.

Preseason is also a good place to find fools gold, but speed is speed. Sheehy needs more reps at punt returner. He doesn’t even need to break another touchdown run. If he just shows he’s capable of breaking tackles and getting some yards, the Browns will have no choice but to give him a roster spot.

The position has been so void of talent ever since Josh Cribbs was the returner. We’re all excited about the Browns, but they’re not so good that can dismiss the returner position. Callaway was supposed to be get an opportunity to do it, but now he’s gone, Dontrell Hilliard looked like the next man up.

He’s not the answer. Sheehy might be. Let’s find out.