Browns injured reserve: Full list and who could return this year

NFL playoff hopes despite all these injuries is still something to be encouraged by

The Cleveland Browns have their first losing streak of the season after dropping back-to-back road games against the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams. Finding winners and losers from Week 13 was quite interesting.

The Browns loss to the Rams was deflating but did not impact their NFL playoff seed.

For most Cleveland fans, there is a clear ceiling on the 2023 NFL season: Just making the playoffs. Browns fans are smart enough to look at the current roster and realize the team would have a hard time defeating the top teams in the league.

The Browns injured reserve has too many of the team’s top talent for them to really compete at the highest levels. The list doesn’t even include these players who are injured but not placed out for at least four weeks:

• Amari Cooper
• Denzel Ward
• Dorian Thompson-Robinson
• Marquise Goodwin

On that list alone, with Cooper being added due to a concussion, we see Cleveland’s top wide receiver, cornerback and deep threat along with the current starting quarterback.

The Browns injured reserve list, according to the team’s website, adds even more top talent and depth pieces:

• Deshaun Watson
• Nick Chubb
• Jack Conklin
• Jedrick Wills
• Jakeem Grant
• Rodney McLeod
• Cameron Mitchell
• Jacob Phillips
• Dawson Deaton

(*Daylen Baldwin is listed on the site but he reached an injury settlement with Cleveland and has since been back for a workout)

On that list, there are just two players who are likely to be able to return sometime this season: Wills (knee) and Mitchell (shoulder).

Putting the two lists together, the following roles were not available for the Browns after halftime of Week 13:

• Starting QB
• Backup QB
• Starting RB
• Top WR
• Top deep threat WR
• Starting LT
• Starting RT
• Kick Returner/Gadget WR
• Top CB
• Third safety/nickel DB
• Backup/Slot CB
• Backup LB
• Practice squad OL

Cleveland is hopeful that DTR, Cooper, Goodwin, Wills, Ward and Mitchell will be able to return at some point this season but, after dropping two straight and with the Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town this week, the sooner the better.

It is hard to win in the NFL, period. It is even harder to win dealing with that kind of purge of talent due to injuries.

When you see all the names and roles listed, does it change how you see the Browns currently?