We’re heading into week 6 of the 2025 NFL season, and one of the Cleveland Browns’ young, up-and-coming defensive players is nowhere to be found on game days. Second-year DT Mike Hall Jr. has been a healthy scratch for the first five weeks of the year, and without any real explanation being released to the public.
Yes, it’s technically possible that he’s being ramped up slowly following his 2024 knee injury, but there’s been more than enough time for that to take place by now. For the team not to place him
on IR and waste a roster spot only for Hall Jr. to be scratched each week makes no sense whatsoever.
There’s been a rumor floating around amongst the media world that’s basically accusing Hall Jr. of being a “baby” and voluntarily taking himself out of game consideration each week by telling the staff that he’s not ready yet. Though these types of things should always be taken with a grain of salt, this one definitely has some legs to stand on.
This would 100% explain why the team didn’t place him on IR initially; they believed that he’d be available (which he has been) and ready to go within the first two weeks of the 2025 season.
It’s no secret that Mike Hall Jr. passed his physical in August and has been medically cleared to play since week one. There’s been no health risks at this point when it comes to his potential availability each week, and the Browns aren’t waiting on the medical staff to give him the “green light” or something like that.
Hall Jr. has been going through drills and participating for a while now, but it just so happens that he’s being ruled out every week. Unless he’s had a fairly large setback that hasn’t been disclosed yet, something’s definitely fishy here.
It’s been rough for Cleveland, who could definitely use his pass-rushing prowess inside in a rotational role behind Maliek Collins and Mason Graham, and also a bad situation for Hall as his role in the Browns’ defense dwindles more and more each week.
Why do you think Mike Hall Jr. hasn’t played yet? Join fellow Browns fans in the comment section below.
