The Cleveland Browns cut 19 players Saturday to get to the league-mandated 53 players. Here's a closer look at the final cuts and roster:
Most significant move: The significance can be debated, but tight end Devon Cajuste had earned some fame with his heartwarming story about his pursuit of a job and relationship with his father on HBO's "Hard Knocks." Cajuste was one of the final releases, as the team actually had him as the fifth tight end on a roster that kept four. The Browns preferred Seth DeValve even though he missed a significant part of camp and preseason because of a quad injury. Cajuste might stick around on the practice squad, but DeValve and Orson Charles joined David Njoku and Darren Fells on the roster at tight end. For now.
Not finished: How certain is it that more moves are coming on Sunday? The Browns are not having general manager John Dorsey or coach Hue Jackson comment on the roster until Sunday afternoon. The logical reason: Waiver pickups will be announced Sunday, and the Browns have the first choice of the players available. They will make more additions and subtractions Sunday, with emphasis on the linebacker and receiver positions. Fans would be wise to temper expectations on players acquired Sunday though; the Browns have made a habit of these kind of moves over the years without any of them making a significant impact on the win total.
Not a good time for flux: Teams talk all the time about unity and continuity on the offensive line, but the Browns might be retooling the left side of their line before the opener. "Everything's still a little fluid over there, especially on the left side," Jackson said in a media conference call Friday. Which means that Joel Bitonio might move from left tackle to left guard before the opener. Bitonio had been moved outside early in training camp as the Browns sought a replacement for Joe Thomas. Jackson's admission Friday that he didn't know who would line up where on the left side indicates one of three things, or a combination of all three: They prefer Bitonio at guard over tackle, rookie Austin Corbett did not take advantage of the chance to win the left guard spot and/or they have huge belief that undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison coud handle the left tackle spot. It's not likely the Browns will pick up a starting left tackle on the waiver wire, so it will be interesting to see how the Browns sort out this jumble as they prepare to try to end a 17-game losing streak in the opener against Pittsburgh.
Browns moves: All moves made Friday and Saturday: Waived QB Brogan Roback; RBs Matthew Dayes and Dontrell Hilliard; WRs Evan Berry, Black Jackson, Jeff Janis and Da'Mari Scott; TEs Julian Allen (from injured reserve), Stephen Baggett and Devon Cajuste; OL Kevin Bowen, Christian DiLauro, Spencer Drango, Anthony Fabiano and Geoff Gray; DL Caleb Brantley, Daniel Ekuale, Marcell Frazier, Jeremy Faulk, Avery Gennesy, Zaycover Henderson, Fred Lauina, Nate Orchard and Blaine Woodson; LBs B.J. Bello, Mychal Kendricks and Brady Sheldon; DBs Christian Boutte, Elijah Campbell, Mike Jordan, Montrel Meander, Tigie Sankoh, Derron Smith and Simeon Thomas; PK Ross Martin, and P Justin Vogel. Waived/injured WR C.J. Board, LB Justin Currie, DL Lenny Jones, and FB Danny Vitale. Traded OL Shon Coleman (to San Francisco for 2019 seventh-round pick). Acquired DL Davaroe Lawrence from New Orleans for a 2019 seventh-round pick.