Browns' Jesse James: Goes to IR with biceps injury
Rotowire
Cleveland placed James (biceps) on IR on Tuesday.
James will now have to miss at least the next four weeks, including the Browns' matchup versus Pittsburgh, his former team, Thursday. Regardless, David Njoku is Cleveland's clear number one tight end and nearly an every-down player, and Harrison Bryant (thumb) has played ahead of James up to this point too.
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Browns' Jesse James: Won't face former team Week 3
Rotowire
James won't play Thursday against the Steelers due to a biceps injury, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
James has played just 18 offensive snaps through two games with the Browns, so his absence is unlikely to have a significant effect on Cleveland's game plan. Nonetheless, the reserve tight end will be disappointed to miss this showdown against the team with which he spent his first four NFL seasons.
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Browns' Jesse James: Signs with Cleveland
Rotowire
The Browns signed James on Sunday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
James spent last year with the Bears, catching seven passes for 62 yards and a score across 14 appearances, but he wasn't retained this offseason. In Cleveland, the veteran tight end will be a solid No. 3 option behind David Njoku and Harrison Bryant, but he hasn't garnered a sizable offensive role since his first four seasons in the NFL with Pittsburgh.
James posted no stats in the Bears' 31-17 Week 18 loss to the Vikings, and he ended the season with seven catches for 62 yards and a touchdown.
As the Bears' third-string tight end, James saw more than 25 snaps on just two occasions. Although he technically has three more years on his contract, all are void years, and the team can move on with no cap penalty. However, if the Bears let Jimmy Graham go, James could move up the depth chart and potentially have fantasy value as a red-zone target, though Cole Kmet will likely see the overwhelming majority of tight end targets.
James caught his only target for four yards in the Bears' 29-3 win over the Giants on Sunday.
This is just the third time this season that James has posted a reception in a game, and he won't be a recommended fantasy option in Week 18 against the Vikings.
James was activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
James was one of five Chicago players to be removed from COVID-19 protocols Monday. He will likely assume his usual role behind Cole Kmet and Jimmy Graham during the Bears' Week 17 matchup with the Giants.
James will remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list and won't be available for Monday's game against the Vikings, Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site reports.
The reserve tight end is one of 14 members of the Bears roster or practice squad who won't suit up Monday after being placed on the list in recent days. James had drawn just one target over the Bears' last five games, so his absence will likely go unnoticed for fantasy purposes.
