CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns activated linebacker Jacob Phillips from injured reserve Saturday, assuring his return for Sunday’s game against the AFC North leading Ravens.
With his activation, Phillips was also added to the injury report and listed as questionable.
Phillips landed on IR after suffering a torn biceps tendon during the first joint practice with the Giants on August 19. When Phillips found out the severity of the injury, he thought his season was over.
“If my season was going to be over, it was going to be over, but I am happy I have the opportunity to come back now,” Phillips said Friday.
To make room on the roster for Philips, receiver Ja'Marcus Bradley was waived.
Phillips, selected in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was designated to return from IR this week making him eligible to practice and giving the Browns 21 days to activate him.
The Browns put Phillips on the initial 53-man roster on August 31, making him eligible to return. He went on IR the next day.
“I just love football. I love being around the team. I love the day-in and day-out grind of it all,” Phillips said. “I showed up to every single meeting. I studied every week like I was preparing to play because that is what it takes to have teammates around where you can ask them questions. ‘Hey, what do I do on this?’ I will not be prepared to answer those if I am not prepared so every week I prepared, took notes and studied like I was going to be ready to play that week.”
Joe Woods could use Phillips against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens with veteran Anthony Walker Jr. on the reserve/COVID-19 list and unavailable.
“He looks healthy,” Woods said Thursday.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski wanted Phillips to get through a complete week of practice before deciding whether to activate him.
“He looked good this week,” Stefanski said Friday.
Phillips played in nine games with three starts as a rookie where he totaled 25 tackles, including one for loss, a quarterback hit and pass breakup.
Stefanski plans to be careful with Phillips’ reps Sunday.
“We have to be mindful that he has not played football in a minute here,” Stefanski said. “He had had a good week of practice. I will say this about Jacob, he has been in every single meeting, he has been in every single walkthrough and he has come on the road with us so he is very indoctrinated into what we are doing, and that is a testament to how hard he has worked.”
Receiver JoJo Natson was elevated from the practice squad while cornerback Herb Miller and safety Javonte Moffatt were COVID-19 elevations.