A telling move by the Browns
By STEVE KING
We have placed WR Jarvis Landry on Injured Reserve & signed DE Ifeadi Odenigbo from the practice squad.
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 21, 2021
How worried are the Browns’ deep thinkers worried about the team’s struggling defense?
Very much so.
We know that by the move they made Tuesday.
They placed their best wide receiver, Jarvis Landry, who got hurt in Sunday’s 31-21 victory over the Houston Texans, onto the Injured Reserve List and promoted an obscure defensive end, Ifeadi Odenigbu. from their practice squad, to the regular roster (see the press release below).
Postgame Notes, Landry Update, Game Balls and More
Yes, that’s right, the Browns lost their top wideout, and instead of replacing him with another wideout, they added a defensive end who you couldn’t pick out of a lineup. Come on, do you know anything about Odenigbu?
No. I don’t, either.
The move was made because General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski know their offense is fine, that it is deep enough, at least for a time, to weather the loss of Landry, and they also know their defense is not fine — not at all.
Anyone who can help the defense — at any position — looks pretty good to the Browns right now, even if it’s at end, which may be the strongest position area on the unit with Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.
The defense has to get better.
Or else.
Or else what?
The Browns and their fans will be disappointed at the end of the season, because that offense can’t carry them all year. It can’t outscore everyone, and they found that out in the opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Defensive coordinator Joe Woods is on the hot seat. The Browns spent a lot of money, both in free agency and with high NFL Draft picks, in the offseason to fix their defense. It doesn’t show. The defense doesn’t look any better than it did last season, when it really struggled.
This is the biggest story on the team right now — by far — and it likely will remain that way until those guys show improvement.
Certainly a telling move by the Browns. So, stay tuned.
READ NEXT: Is there film of the Browns’ first game in Akron?
Browns sign DE Ifeadi Odenigbo from the Practice Squad, place WR Jarvis Landry on IR (9.21.21)
For Immediate Release
Sept. 21, 2021
Berea, Ohio – The Cleveland Browns announced they have signed DE Ifeadi Odenigbo (pronounced if-AH-dee oh-DEN-uh-bo) from the team’s practice squad and placed WR Jarvis Landry (knee) on injured reserve.*
Odenigbo (6-3, 258) spent the first two weeks of the season on the Browns’ practice squad. He was originally a 2017 seventh-round (220th overall) pick by the Minnesota Vikings from Northwestern. Has logged 15 starts (all in 2020) in 32 regular season games and produced 59 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries over four-year career. Odenigbo also had stints with the Cleveland Browns (inactive first three games in 2018) and Arizona Cardinals (2018) before playing the last two seasons on the Vikings’ active roster (2019-20) and spending the 2021 offseason with the New York Giants. Odenigbo is a native of Centerville, Ohio.
Landry, a five-time Pro Bowler, sustained a knee injury on the second offensive play of the game against Houston. He finished the game with one reception for nine yards, snapping his streak of 111 games in a row with at least two receptions, the fourth longest streak in NFL history. This season, Landry has caught six passes for 80 yards and two rushes for 13 yards and a touchdown.
*Any player going on injured reserve at this point in the season with a major injury is allowed to return after missing only three games, and teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve throughout the year.
###
Visit the Browns Media Center for materials provided by the Browns communications department, including media schedules, press releases, quotes, photos, media guides, rosters, depth charts, etc.
Key dates ahead Sunday: Sept. 26: Week 3 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.Oct. 3: Week 4 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.Oct. 10: Week 5 at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.Nov. 2: NFL trade deadline, 4 p.m.
