Attrition affects every NFL team. Starters on both sides of the ball will get nicked or outright injured. Sometimes, the player can work through it, while others aren’t placed on IR, but have to sit for a game or two.
This happened to WR Cedric Tillman. He suffered a hamstring injury. Now, he is listed as available to play against the New York Jets this weekend, according to Kelsey Russo, reporter for the Cleveland Browns. He is officially listed as questionable, but that designation should change
before kickoff, with Tillman needing to be activated from injured reserve.
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Designated to return on November 3, Tillman has been a full participant in practices this week. The bye week has certainly helped his timeline to return.
The Browns are already missing rookie Isaiah Bond with a foot issue, so Tillman’s availability for the Jets comes at an opportune time for this Cleveland offense. Before he was injured, Tillman was a favorite target of rookie QB Dillon Gabriel, going back to their training camp days. He is a good Red Zone target based on his 6’-3” frame.
Tillman was injured in the first half of the Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. He tried to play through the injury but was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Hamstring injuries are very tricky. With today’s medical technology, most players can return within weeks, while other deep tissue issues require at least a month, if not longer.
Tillman’s career in Cleveland has been a roller coaster. He was the franchise’s first pick in the 2023 NFL draft taken in the third round out of Tennessee. This was right in the middle of the Browns not having any first- or second-round picks, which were instead sent to the Houston Texans in the Deshaun Watson trade.
Before he became injured, Tillman had four starts, 20 targets, 11 receptions for 106 yards, two touchdowns, converted eight first downs, and a 9.6 yards per reception average.
He is in the third year of his four-year rookie deal. He has 669 yards for his three years in the league with five touchdowns, most of which came in a few-game stretch last season after Amari Cooper was traded.
