Can two Browns rookie draft picks who missed virtually the entire preseason survive roster cuts this weekend?
Wide receiver Ricardo Louis, a fourth-round selection, and cornerback Trey Caldwell, a fifth-round choice, are among the Browns players who won't play in the preseason finale against the Chicago Bears beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday at FirstEnergy Stadium. All NFL teams must trim their 75-man rosters to 53 players by 4 p.m. Saturday.
Louis played in the exhibition opener Aug. 12 against the Green Bay Packers and missed the final three preseason games because of a hamstring injury. Caldwell missed all four preseason games and almost all of training camp with a hamstring injury.
Louis and Caldwell returned to practice Monday and coach Hue Jackson was asked afterward if it was too late for them to earn roster spots.
"Never too late for anybody as you know. We will see," Jackson said. "I don’t know if those guys can participate on Thursday, but we would love to have the opportunity to evaluate them further and see where it goes.
"It is still the body of work. The guys were here through OTAs [in the spring]. We would love to see them in a game. That would give you a little bit more clarification of what they are, but at the same time, we have a pretty good idea of who they are and where they are. Will it be tough for them to earn a spot? That is yet to be determined. We will figure that one out."
Louis is probably more likely to make the team than Caldwell, but both players are on the bubble. They would be prime candidates for the 10-man practice squad if they're cut.
Other Browns players who'll sit out against the Bears are cornerback Justin Gilbert (concussion), undrafted rookie cornerback Tracy Howard (hamstring), wide receiver Marlon Moore (hip) and running back Raheem Mostert (hamstring).
The only surprise among the Browns' inactives for the fourth and final preseason game is that cornerback Tramon Williams isn't on the list. He sat out practices the past week with an injured toe and was sidelined for the third preseason game Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But the Browns expect Williams to play against the Bears.
There has been speculation about the Browns possibly cutting Williams because of his age (33), high salary ($6.2 million in 2016) and place in the pecking order (Jamar Taylor replaced him as the starter opposite Joe Haden nearly two weeks ago).
Yet Jackson insisted Monday that Williams remains in the team's plans moving forward.
"Tramon? Oh yeah, Tramon is [in our plans]," Jackson said. "Tramon, we are just waiting for him to get over his little thing that he has with his foot and we will get him back out there. I’m excited about him. He is a pro. I like what he has done, and obviously, we need to get him more opportunities out there on the field."