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CLEVELAND, OHIO – OCTOBER 19: Donovan McMillon #31 and Tre Avery #28 of the Cleveland Browns celebrate after a play against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Huntington Bank Field on October 19, 2025 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
There are four games remaining for the Cleveland Browns, and no matter what happens from here, it can be said with certainty that the team’s season will come to an end in the first weekend in January, as the Browns are one of only four AFC teams to be eliminated from playoff contention. Still, there is much to be decided in these four games, starting with the future of the quarterback position, where rookie Shedeur Sanders is attempting to make his case to keep the starting job.
But with more than a dozen rookies on the roster for the Browns, it’s hardly just Sanders that will be fighting for a job in the final month of the year. There are several first-year players–and other young guys–who are in the mix for 2026 spots, and the tough slate ahead will be a chance to show they belong.
That goes for fringe veterans, too. On Wednesday, the Browns made a move on Tre Avery, the fourth-year cornerback who has bounced between the roster on and the practice squad this season. He should get a look for the rest of the year, as the Browns announced that Avery will be signed to the 53-man roster.
Browns Configure the Roster for Final Run
The corresponding move saw the Browns cut ties with veteran safety, who had been with Cleveland for the past two years.
From the Browns’ release on the transactions: “The Cleveland Browns have signed CB Tre Avery to the active roster from the practice squad. To make room on the roster, the team has waived S Christopher Edmonds.
“Avery (5-11, 185) is in his fourth NFL season out of Rutgers. Originally signed by Tennessee as an undrafted free agent in 2022, Avery has appeared in 44 career games, including six with the Browns this season. He will wear No. 28.”
The Browns have been busy with transactions this week, as they’ve lost starting center Ethan Pocic and backup running back Jerome Ford to injuries for the rest of the season. Cleveland added two other players, tackle Jeremiah Byers off the Cardinals‘ practice squad and running back Trayveon Williams off the Chargers’ practice squad.
They added another defensive tackle–Maurice Hurst II–to the practice squad this week.
GettyCleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski.
Shedeur Sanders Still the Headliner
While the depth of the roster is very important for the Browns as they move forward, there’s no doubt that it will continue to be Sanders and his development that gets the most attention. He is making just his fourth NFL start, and coach Kevin Stefanski says that just makes it too tough to truly evaluate him.
“I don’t think you can quantify development. With all of our players, we have a development plan that we feel strongly about,” Stefanski said.
“And like I think I mentioned to you guys before, what’s great about our young class, Shedeur, in this case our entire rookie class, is these guys want to get better. And as coaches, as teachers, you have guys that are putting in all the effort to improve in a ton of areas, whether it’s classroom, scheme, technique, footwork, hand placement, etcetera. I think all these guys are making strides just because they’re devoted to their development.”
Sean Deveney is a veteran sports reporter covering the NBA, NFL and MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2019 and has more than two decades of experience covering the NBA, including 17 years as the lead NBA reporter for the Sporting News. Deveney is the author of 7 nonfiction books, including “Fun City,” “Before Wrigley became Wrigley,” and “Facing Michael Jordan.” More about Sean Deveney
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