The Cleveland Browns have released tight end/fullback Giovanni Ricci after agreeing on an injury settlement.
Ricci sustained a knee injury during the Browns’ second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, which was expected to sideline him for several weeks. Before his injury, he recorded four catches for 32 yards in the preseason.
The Browns had signed Ricci to a one-year contract this offseason to add depth at tight end. He was primarily being considered for a blocking role and had just nine catches for 102 yards throughout his career.
Undrafted in 2020, Ricci initially joined the Carolina Panthers. In his three NFL seasons, he has played in 36 games with four starts. Once he recovers, he will be searching for a new team.
The Browns made several moves on Thursday, August 22, including signing running back Jacob Saylors and trading kicker Cade York to the Washington Commanders for a conditional seventh-round pick.
Browns Pro Bowl TE David Njoku Out With Injury
With Ricci no longer on the roster, the Browns are left with limited depth at the tight end position. Pro Bowler David Njoku is the standout player in the unit but has been absent from practice since August 15.
Despite this, the Browns don’t seem overly worried about Njoku’s availability for Week 1. Head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that Njoku has been dealing with some soreness following joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings. Njoku appeared upbeat during an interview at training camp on August 22.
“The game has slowed down tremendously,” Njoku said. “From Year 1 to Year 8, the game has slowed down. It’s more about how to do things than what to do now. I feel like that’s one of the biggest steps you can take in this game. Moving from knowing how to do something to understanding what to do is a huge leap.”
The Chief reflects on how his game is different in year 8 in a brand new exclusive interview!
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— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 22, 2024
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