Berea, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns receiver Rashard Higgins is healthy enough to return, but it remains to be seen if he will.
Higgins was a full participant in practice all week, marking the first time that’s happened since he suffered a knee injury in the Week 1 loss to Tennessee.
“I'm excited,” Higgins told Cleveland.com. “See y'all Sunday.”
Head coach Freddie Kitchens wouldn’t say if Higgins would play against the Seahawks.
“We have no determined that yet,” Kitchens said. “He is healthy enough to play.
“I just have not decided yet.”
Receiver Antonio Callaway was glad to see Higgins on the field this week and hopes to see him Sunday afternoon as well.
“It’s always good to have all your guys out there,” Callaway said. “You don’t like seeing nobody injured, nobody not playing when they could be contributing. It’s great to see Higgins back out there at practice.”
Back to X – After being asked to play Z last week at San Francisco and looking lost, Callaway returns to his normal X position this week.
Callaway admitted Friday that he was a bit rusty coming off the four-game suspension for substance abuse violations.
“You could say that,” Callaway said.
Callaway, who had problems lining up at San Francisco, was targeted 3 times without a catch and had a potential touchdown go off his hands for an interception, is also expected to help return punts this week.
“I want to contribute any way I can,” Callaway said.
Free speech – Kitchens said he is not upset with receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham for their comments Thursday about getting them the ball.
“They are free to say whatever they want to say,” Kitchens said. “I do not monitor them – monitor is not the right word. I do not put restrictions on what they say. Our only rule is do not hurt the team. I do not think that hurt the team. I would agree with him.”
Kitchens agreed with Landry’s point about needing to “intentionally” get Beckham the ball.
“I think we need to intentionally get him the ball, too,” Kitchens said. “I think we need to intentionally win a game.”
Where’s Avery – Linebacker Genard Avery made a splash last season but so far in 2019 he’s been MIA – literally. Avery has yet to be active leaving fans scratching their heads as to why.
You wanted to know, so we asked. This was Kitchens’ full unedited response.
“I think we have good depth there,” Kitchens said. “You can’t take but so many guys. You have to worry about other positions, also.”
Practice squad move – Receiver Derrick Willies suffered torn ACL during special teams period in practice according to Kitchens on Thursday.
The injury allowed the Browns to sign former Syracuse quarterback Eric Dungy, who was originally by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in May.
Last run – The Browns announced their bullmastiff mascot Swagger is retiring after Sunday’s game. The team introduced Swagger in 2014.
His son SJ will be introduced Sunday as his replacement.
Injury report – Out: None
Questionable: OT Kendall Lamm (knee), CB Denzel Ward (hamstring), CB Greedy Williams (hamstring)
Expected to play: WR Rashard Higgins (knee), WR Odell Beckham Jr. (hip)
