The focus is on NFL teams’ 53-man rosters, but the base roster is made up of the 48 players who will compete on game day.
When the 48-man roster is announced before each game, I will look at who is inactive and see if we can learn from that.
We also keep records of who was inactive and how many matches during the year.
Below are the game-by-game numbers for the 2022 season to give you an idea of how Kevin Stefanski has performed in the past.
NOTE: Demetric Felton was counted as a wide receiver in these numbers because that’s how he was used in 2022.
Current assets in 2023
Here are the Browns’ inactives so far this season:
Injury report
Here’s a look at the Cleveland Browns injury report for this week:
Outing – Goodwin and Thornhill
Questionable – Jones & Dunn
The training team is growing
Each week, teams can select two players from the practice squad who can then be used in the matchday squad.
However, teams are not required to promote players, and that may not be the case most weeks because those players incur salary cap costs.
You can promote a player from the practice squad three times during the season.
This is intended to ensure equal competition and prevent teams from effectively keeping 55 players on their team via handshake deals.
No one was brought up this week, giving confidence that Jones and Dunn were good to go. They wouldn’t have activated it via IR if they didn’t need it.
Quarterbacks
2022 Active Actions Per Match – 2.0
2023 active per match – 2.0
Active:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson
PJ Walker
Idle:
N/A
Analyses:
We are back with two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, they will add another next week and it remains to be seen whether it will be someone from the practice squad or an addition to Joe Flacco’s 53.
If they sign Flacco, I wouldn’t be shocked if Walker doesn’t make the 53-man roster until the end of the season.
Running back
2022 Active Players Per Game – 3.7
2023 Active players per game – 3.1
Active:
Jerome Ford
Pietro Forte
Kareem Hunt
Idle:
N/A
Analyses:
This is Ford’s backfield, with Hunt being someone who comes into play for short-yardage situations. If we see more Sterk without injuries it’s because the team is comfortable pass blocking him.
Wide receiver
2022 Active Actions Per Game – 5.0
2023 Active Players Per Game – 5.6
Active:
Amari Kuiper
Elijah Moore
Carlo Tilmann
David Bell
James Proche
Idle:
Marchioness Goodwin
Analyses:
The three wide receiver snaps are dominated by Cooper, Moore and Tillman.
It will be very interesting to see if Bell, now healthy and recovering from injury, can jeopardize Tillman’s chances.
Before the DPJ trade, they averaged 2.72 wide receivers per snap, which dropped to 2.34 against the Cardinals, but dropped back to 2.64 against the Ravens.
Narrow end
2022 Active Players Per Game – 2.9
2023 active per game – 3.0
Active:
David Njoku
Harrison Bryant
Jordan Akins
Idle:
N/A
Analyses:
Njoku is arguably the team’s second most important passing weapon and it will be interesting to see if that changes with DTR at quarterback.
Intercept
2022 Active Players per Game – 3.2
2023 active per match – 3.3
Active:
Christian Hiero
Dawand Jones
James Hudson
Leroy Watson
Idle:
N/A
Analyses:
Last season, eight offensive linemen were consistently active on game day. It will likely be a tackle, a guard and a center behind the starting five.
It wouldn’t shock me if they got a ninth copy today, just for extra protection.
Watson is likely a developmental project for next season. Although he is active today, he will play several matches when he is not playing.
Guard
2022 active players per game – 3.7
2023 active players per match – 2.4
Active:
Joel Bitonio
Wyatt Teller
Michael Dunn
Inactive:
N / A
Analysis:
When Dunn returns, they will really feel good about the strength of their guards.
If he didn’t have injury concerns, he’d probably be pushing for a starting role somewhere.
center
2022 active players per match – 1.2
2023 active players per match – 2.5
Active:
Ethan Počic
Nick Harris
Inactive:
Luc Wypler
Analysis:
Wypler isn’t really needed on the roster with Dunn returning, so that doesn’t limit his impact going forward, but Harris is the better backup center.
edge
2022 active players per game – 4.2
2023 active players per game – 4.0
Active:
Myles Garrett
Za’Darius Smith
Ogbo Okoronkwo
Alex Wright
Inactive:
Isaiah McGuire
Analysis:
Wright needs to improve on his 21 percent snaps or risk being left off the roster or demoted to the team’s inactive spot next season.
Defensive tackle
Active per match 2022 – 4.0
2023 active players per game – 4.0
Active:
Dalvin Tomlinson
Shelby Harris
Jordan Elliott
Maurice Hurst
Inactive:
Siaki Ika
Analysis:
I’m still not worried Ika has a role for the Cleveland Browns, but with this group there is no reason to rush him until he is physically ready to meet the demands of the NFL, because a rookie needs time to adapt and get used to defensive tackles.
Especially those taken outside of the first round. Without injuries, we may not see him again this season.
Currently, only Tomlinson and Ika are under contract through 2024, and then he will be needed as a serious contributor for about 40% of the snaps.
If a team has four defensive tackles, there is no chance of getting training wheels. You are expected to read almost 40% of Snaps when they are active.
