Browns add defensive end depth; still working through left tackle plans: Takeaways

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns shook up the back end of their defensive end depth chart, claiming two players via waivers and waiving one.

They claimed James Houston from Detroit, and Cameron Thomas from Kansas City.

To make room, they waived Elerson Smith.

Houston (6-1, 248), originally drafted by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2022 draft out of Jackson State,, was waived Tuesday by the Lions. He’s appeared in 17 games with three starts, totaling 15 tackles, nine sacks and a forced fumble. In 2024, he’s appeared in eight games, totaling four tackles and a sack.

“It just never quite worked out,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday. “And look, wish him the best of luck, and sometimes you just need a fresh start and this could be great for him, so wish him the best.”

After starting out on the Texans’ practice squad as a rookie, Houston notched eight sacks in seven games. But he’s had one sack in the 10 games since. Houston became expendable when the Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith.

Thomas (6-4, 265), originally selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2022 draft out of San Diego State, is in his third NFL season. Thomas spent his first two seasons with the Cardinals and appeared in 32 games with three sacks. He was traded to the Chiefs prior to the start of the 2024 season and appeared in four games with Kansas City.

Broncos slowed Myles Garrett last year

The Broncos committed extra time and resources to Myles Garrett last year, and held him without a sack in the Broncos 29-12 victory. He finished with two tackles, one for a loss, and two passes defensed. Garrett heads into Monday night’s game in Denver as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week from his three-sack game in the victory over Pittsburgh.

“I think you always go into the games understanding that they’ll have a plan for Myles,” Stefanski said. “It could be sliding away from him, it could be running away from him, it can be making sure there’s always a tight end next to him to chip, it can also be calling plays where the ball comes out of the quarterback’s hands extra fast. So those are the type of things that you go into it expecting them to do.”

Cedric Tillman still in the concussion protocol

The Browns conducted only a walk-through on Wednesday, but Tillman was still in the concussion protocol.

The Browns will conduct a full practice Thursday morning.

“He’s getting better,” Stefanski said.

Still working through left tackle plans

Stefanski had no more clarity Wednesday on if Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) will be available to play at left tackle.

“Still working through it,” he said.

The Browns can sure use him. The Broncos lead the NFL with 44 sacks, 12 more than the ninth-place Browns. If he’s not ready, Germain Ifedi will make his second straight there in place of Dawand Jones (fibula).

“Really, really impressive defense,” Stefanski said. “I think Vance Joseph is doing an outstanding job with them. You look over there, they have good players at every level. Obviously, (Pat) Surtain II is a very, very good corner. We played him last year, know how talented he is, but they have a bunch of guys in that back end that can produce, that can tackle, that can make plays on the ball.

“They’re sound, they can pressure you, they can play coverage. I think they have 14 players with at least a half a sack. They’re leading the league in sacks. So, like you mentioned, rush and coverage go together and they’re doing a very, very good job.”