BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Defensive end Takkarist McKinley is back with the Browns, but not on the practice field yet.
McKinley returned to the team recently according to head coach Kevin Stefanski, who declined to provide much in the way of details about the situation or his absence.
“He’s been back for a few days,” Stefanski said following Tuesday’s practice. “He’s doing well, working through it and hopefully we’ll see more of him as we go.”
McKinley walked into the Casey Coleman Feld House with a trainer Tuesday morning after players started stretching for practice.
Stefanski expects McKinley to return to practice soon, but whether he will be able to play Sunday night at Atlanta remains to be seen.
“I’ll kinda see how the week goes,” Stefanski said.
McKinley left practice on July 30 and 31 due to an illness the team said at the time and was excused from the team for personal reasons later the following week.
“I think we support all of our guys,” Stefanski said. “In the building, outside the building, so he has our support, has my support and then I think the guys are excited to have him back.”
Game week mode – With training camp officially over and one more preseason game to go, Stefanski plans to move his team into regular season schedule mode this week following Tuesday's extra day.
“We will still do competitive periods against each other Browns versus Browns. We will run cards like we do during a regular season,” Stefanski said. “I just thought it was important that our coaches and our players get back in the rhythm of that while still doing some competitive periods. With this extra day, if you will, we just felt this was the best thing to do.”
No JOK(E) – Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koromoah was unable to practice Tuesday.
“He had an accident in the weight room – had to get stitches,” Stefanski said. “He will be OK.”
Aside from confirming the injury did not occur while Owusu-Koramoah was bench pressing, Stefanski declined to discuss details of the accident.
Cut to 79 – The Browns opened up a roster spot for a potential addition by cutting cornerback Robert Jackson.
Could it be for a kicker after Cody Parkey was placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury Monday?
“I would tell you, nothing to add,” Stefanski said. “We discuss the roster often, every day so certainly, we are looking at every single position but nothing to add from yesterday.”
The Browns released Parkey from IR Tuesday afternoon.
Injury report – WR Ja’Marcus Bradley (neck), S Grant Delpit (hamstring), G Michael Dunn (back), LB Tony Fields II (foot), LB Sione Takitaki (hamstring), S Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), CB M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring) and CB Denzel Ward (soreness), WR Anthony Schwartz (hamstring), DE Porter Gustin (soreness), C J.C. Tretter (undisclosed), DE Takkarist McKinley (undisclosed), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (facial laceration) did not practice.
Up next – Practice Wednesday.