BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
The move allowed Walker to return to practice and the team has three weeks to officially activate him to the active 53-man roster.
While it would appear Walker is in line to play this week against the Chargers, head coach Kevin Stefanski wants to see him on the practice field first.
“With any of these guys coming off an injury, we’ve seen them move around in their rehab, but we definitely want to see them practice football first,” Stefanski said.
Walker missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury suffered during practice on September 16.
Walker played 62 snaps – or 95% – and graded out at 59.6, ranked 29th out of 63 linebackers according to Pro Football Focus during their Week 1 33-29 loss to the Chiefs that saw him record a team-high nine tackles.
Walker, who signed a 1-year, $3 million contract in the offseason as a free agent from Indianapolis, also missed time during training camp due to a knee injury.
Newsome out again – Of the nine players that did not practice Wednesday, including left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr., Stefanski is only ruling out rookie corner Greg Newsome II for Sunday.
“With all those guys, we’ll see how the week goes, but just being smart about some of those things,” Stefanski said.
Newsflash – Add Stefanski to the long list of people surprised by the lightning delay that pushed back the start of Monday night’s game between the Raiders and Chargers.
“For us, we got to see that stadium and find out it is not an indoor stadium – that was news to me,” Stefanski said.
While SoFi Stadium has a roof over it, it is an independent structure from the seating bowl, which is not enclosed. Engineers designed the stadium that way specifically to handle California's seismic environment and minimize potential damage in the event of an earthquake.
Chubb’s chatterbox – Nick Chubb doesn’t say much and he’s arguably the most focused player on the roster on game days, except when he’s around Kareem Hunt.
“Playing alongside him, being with him at all times, it’s always fun,” Chubb said. “He’s always funny and that’s who he is all of the time. He’s the same way. I really enjoy playing with him and being on the field with him.”
Recently NFL Films captured Hunt chatting with Chubb during the Bears game.
“I catch myself breaking focus sometimes with Kareem but I gotta lock back in real quick,” Chubb, who admitted Hunt is the only player to have that effect on him, said.
Commercial king – Quarterback Baker Mayfield knows a thing or two about making commercials.
His Progressive and Heisman House spots have been hits, which is why he might not feel threatened by left guard Joel Bitonio’s recent rise to commercial stardom.
“We need to get Joel a better production team and then we might be able to talk from there,” Mayfield joked. “Not worried at all, though, cause Jack [Conklin] was not really good in his and Nick Chubb, we’re going to have to work on his acting skills as well.”
Bitonio’s commercial with Jack Conklin for a local car dealership has earned the two plenty of jabs from teammates.
“I don’t know if they came up with the creative content,” Mayfield said. “Joel at least smiled through it. Jack, on the other hand, looked like he was being held captive.”
Mayfield has co-starred with left tackle Jedrick Wills and former Browns left tackle and current radio analyst Doug Dieken in the ‘At home with Baker Mayfield’ campaign.
“Jed’ll surprise you. He’s quiet and it’s the quiet ones that always get you,” Mayfield said.
Lee back – The team re-signed linebacker Elijah Lee, cut on Tuesday, to the practice squad. Lee was cut, likely to make way for Walker’s eventual return.
Injury report – DNP: DE Jadeveon Clowney (elbow) CB Troy Hill (toe), DE Takkarist McKinley (ankle/knee), CB Greg Newsome II (calf), TE David Njoku (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (abdomen), C J.C. Tretter (knee/back), CB Denzel Ward (neck), LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (ankle), DE Myles Garrett (rest/not injury related), DT malik Jackson (rest/not injury related); LIMITED:RT Jack Conklin (knee), LB Tony Fields Jr. (shoulder), OL Chris Hubbard (triceps); FULL: WR Odell Beckham Jr. (shoulder)
Up next – Practice Thursday.