Advertisement

Browns activate Michael Dunn from non-football illness list, place Alex Wright on IR

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Saturday’s roster moves for the Browns were an overall positive for their offensive line.

Reserve guard Michael Dunn was activated from the active/non-football illness list. Dunn had been on the list since Aug. 27, when Cleveland had to make final cuts to the initial 53-man roster.

Just as big, potentially, was the fact the Browns didn’t elevate an offensive tackle from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Sunday’s game at the Washington Commanders, instead elevating cornerback Tony Brown II and tight end Geoff Swaim for the third consecutive game. That could be viewed as a sign that either Jedrick Wills Jr. or Jack Conklin, or both, could be available against the Commanders.

Both Wills (knee) and Conklin (hamstring) were listed as questionable by Cleveland on Friday. Wills has only played about two-and-a-half quarters in Week 3 against the New York Giants since Week 9 of last year, while Conklin hasn’t played since last year’s season opener.

Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) celebrates after rushing for a second-half first down with guard Michael Dunn against the Steelers, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland.
Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) celebrates after rushing for a second-half first down with guard Michael Dunn against the Steelers, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland.

The one negative piece of news to emerge Saturday was that defensive end Alex Wright was officially placed on injured reserve. Wright had season-ending triceps surgery on Thursday.

Dunn has appeared in 40 career games with six starts, all since joining the Browns in 2020. He’ll provide depth at guard with Wyatt Teller on injured reserve and rookie Zak Zinter having filled in for Teller since the injury.

Both Brown and Swaim will have used up their three elevations Sunday. Brown has played a big special teams role in his three games, while Swaim has provided depth at tight end as David Njoku has recovered from an ankle injury suffered in the opener.

Njoku was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. So, too, was running back Pierre Strong (hamstring) and Dunn.

Browns' Alex Wright earns fine from NFL for blow to head in loss to Raiders

To add a little insult to the injury trouble Wright is going through, the NFL on Saturday fined him $7,743 for the roughing the passer penalty he drew in last Sunday's loss at the Las Vegas Raiders. Specifically, Wright was fined for delivering a blow to the head of Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew.

The play, with 13:43 remaining in the third quarter, allowed the Raiders to convert a third-and-9 from the 50 into a first down. Las Vegas ended up kicking a field goal to take a 13-10 lead.

The Raiders' Adam Butler was fined $9,653 for two separate misdeeds. Butler was fined for using his full body weight on a roughing the passer penalty after hitting Deshaun Watson in the first quarter, which drew a flag, then taunting after a tackle on Jerome Ford in the fourth quarter that didn't draw one.

(This story has been updated with new information.)

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns activate Michael Dunn, place Alex Wright on injured reserve