Demetric Felton a no-brainer to make final 53, Owusu-Koramoah ruled out for Falcons, and other observations f – cleveland.com

BEREA, Ohio — With the roster cuts to 53 coming on Tuesday by 4 p.m., sixth-round running back/receiver Demetric Felton is one of the Browns players with nothing to worry about.

The No. 211 overall pick out of UCLA, Felton has had an extremely productive and promising camp, and any speculation that he won’t make the 53 is crazy talk.

Felton (5-9, 189) has not only handled his dual runner/receiver role admirably, he’s managed a third role — special teams — successfully as well. When third-round pick Anthony Schwartz first injured his hamstring in rookie camp, Felton was pressed into serve more at receiver, and has demonstrated he can make plays. A pass slipped through his hands on Friday with John Johnson bearing down, but for the most part, he’s come down with the ball.

He’s been so impressive that he might serve as the sixth receiver as well as the third running back, thereby possibly saving a roster spot. In that scenario, a very good player such as receiver KhaDarel Hodge might not make the initial 53, but could be brought back once some players are placed on injured reserve.

But Hodge also plays key roles on special teams, and he’d be hard to part with. But Felton has earned a spot, and is this year’s Donovan Peoples-Jones, a sixth-round pick who looks like a steal. He’ll undoubtedly get plenty of reps in Atlanta.

JOK out

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (forehead stitches) will sit out the Falcons game because he’s not yet ready to wear a helmet. He suffered the injury during a weightlifting accident at the club facility and he’s missed the whole week of practice. Coupled with missing the first five full days of camp while on COVID-19 reserve, Owusu-Koramoah has missed nine training camp practices, which is a ton for a rookie.

He came back strong from the quarantine, and exceeded expectations in Jacksonville with eight tackles — three for a loss — a sack, and a nearly-blocked punt. He played so well I believe he was on track to possibly start in Kansas City ahead of Mack Wilson. But the accident almost guarantees he will have to come off the bench in K.C.

Owusu-Koramoah is so talented that his inevitable rookie mistakes will be overshadowed by his dynamic playmaking ability. The team’s best blitzer, he has exceptional closing speed, instincts and cover ability. Wilson has had a nice camp, but Owusu-Koramoah has first-round talent, and the Browns will want to take advantage of that as soon as possible.

Tony Fields II returned to practice

The Browns played a game of Flip the Switch Friday, in which several players swapped jerseys for the 90-minute session. Greedy Williams (groin) worked with the other injured players wearing Wilson’s jersey, and Wilson practiced at linebacker in Williams’ No. 26.

Curtis Weaver donned Myles Garrett’s No. 95 and must have felt like Superman. Garrett, in turn, wore Weaver’s No. 59, and sat out team drills. Fifth-round linebacker Tony Fields II, incognito in a different jersey and sidelined all camp with a foot injury, snuck onto the practice field for the first time.

“Fields was out there, yeah,’’ coach Kevin Stefanski said. “The jumbling of the jerseys was I think to make life hard on [reporters] and me (laughter). It worked. That’s a one-time only deal.”

Fields is another player the Browns will have to make a decision on over the next week. He’ll make the 53, but then could be placed on IR and later designated for return.

Takk McKinley could see some action against his former team

McKinley returned to the practice field on Wednesday for the first time since July 31, but it’s uncertain whether Stefanski will play him in Atlanta against the team that drafted him in 2017. Released by the Falcons in November after he asked to be traded, McKinley had a tumultuous past few years with the club.

But he appears to have stayed in good shape while dealing with a personal issue for the past three weeks, and the coaches might want to see him get some live reps. A speed rusher, McKinley has looked explosive in individual drills on the bags and sleds.