“I trust Damarious is going to go out, prepare and play and everything is the same,” Kitchens said. “I have no problems with Damarious.”
Randall was on the field Wednesday afternoon as the team practiced indoors with snow falling outside.
“Just an internal issue [but] everything’s resolved,” Randall said.
Randall reportedly didn’t practice on Thanksgiving, but the safety declined to take accountability for his own actions or even explain what happened.
“That was coach’s decision as you seen,” Randall said. “We handled everything internally.”
Randal, acquired from green Bay in March 2018, can become a free agent next March. He was asked about his future in Cleveland Wednesday.
“Like I said in August, I don’t know,” Randall said. “The contract situation, it is what it is. I’m just going to keep putting my best foot forward, just do what I can to help this team win games.”
“It’s difficult to do things like that,” Kitchens said. “It’s always difficult to cut someone. In this instance, it was even more difficult.”
Smith appeared in nine games for the Browns this season where he totaled one tackle, an assisted tackle, quarterback hit and pass defensed.
“Chris is a good person,” Kitchens said. “I still remember the morning that it all happened. I was at his house, and we talked and some of those conversations that you have with a person builds your identity as a relationship. It is very difficult anytime you release a player that is the type of person that Chris is. He is certainly a good person.
“Our football relationship ended, but that does not mean our personal relationship from my standpoint, his teammates and this organization. We will always be there to support Chris.”
It could be argued the release was cold considering the circumstances, but football is a business.
“It’s definitely hard to see a guy like that let go,” cornerback T.J. Carrie said.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say upsetting. I would say more shocked or surprised. Those things are hard because you develop these relationships. You hate to see how the business is.”
“I think David is getting close,” Kitchens said. “He practiced a little bit more last week, and he is getting closer.”
Njoku contends he’s been ready to play the last two weeks.
“We just want to make sure he is ready to go,” Kitchens said. “That is all because there is no half-stepping it. Once you are at the game from that spot, he has to play. You are limited on how many guys you can have at the game so you need to make sure that he can do all of the things he needs to do not just in one area but in all areas, especially in that position.”
Safety Eric Murray, who underwent knee surgery on Nov. 1, also returned to practice.
Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor made the announcement Wednesday.
Limited: QB Baker Mayfeld (right hand/ribs), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (groin), WR Jarvis Landry (hip), TE Stephen Carlson (ankle), TE Demetrius Harris (shoulder), WR KhaDarel Hodge (Achilles), S Eric Murray, RG Wyatt Teller, DE Olivier Vernon (knee), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder)
Full: RB Dontrell Hilliard (knee), LT Greg Robinson (concussion), DE Chad Thomas (chest/ribs), LB Mack Wilson (chest/ribs)