Browns: 5 most likely to be cut after this week’s game

BEREA, OH - AUGUST 19: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a joint practice with the New York Giants on August 19, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
BEREA, OH - AUGUST 19: Baker Mayfield #6 of the Cleveland Browns throws a pass during a joint practice with the New York Giants on August 19, 2021 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) /
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BEREA, OHIO – AUGUST 29: Linebacker Willie Harvey #56 of the Cleveland Browns works out during training camp at the Browns training facility on August 29, 2020 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
BEREA, OHIO – AUGUST 29: Linebacker Willie Harvey #56 of the Cleveland Browns works out during training camp at the Browns training facility on August 29, 2020 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

LB Willie Harvey Jr.

The Browns signed Willie Harvey and Montrel Meander to fill out the depth at linebacker this week. Both men are Browns alumni, with Harvey Jr. playing two games for Cleveland in 2019, wearing number 56 and recording one tackle. Meander played in four games in 2020 for the Browns, converting from cornerback to linebacker, and was just released this past Monday.

Both men are now hoping to get a spot on the team following the possible-season-ending injury that Jacob Phillips suffered in practice. Phillips, who was trending to be the Browns’ fourth linebacker behind Anthony Walker, Sione Takitaki, and Mack Wilson, was in his second year in the NFL. Phillips was coming off of a solid second half of his rookie season in 2020 and had some thinking he’d be able to snag a starting job this year.

Meander had been with the Browns since 2019 as a member of the practice squad and was just released on Aug. 16, 2021, in the first round of cuts. It seems unlikely that the Browns will cut him again so fast, making Harvey a likely target to get down to 80 players following the second preseason game.

It’ll be interesting to see if Harvey can actually make some noise against the Giants on Saturday but it seems unlikely.