11 Donovan Peoples-Jones WR

Peoples-Jones has been given increased usage during drills early in camp, Ellis L. Williams of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Peoples-Jones enters camp fourth on the depth chart, but he's getting a lot of love in 11-on-11 drills as the Browns take it easy on Odell Beckham (knee) and Jarvis Landry. That decision with their top-two receivers, plus Rashard Higgins' ankle injury, gives Peoples-Jones and quarterback Baker Mayfield reps to establish a rhythm.

Peoples-Jones had an excellent minicamp and figures to compete for the No. 3 receiver job this summer, according to Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

The 2020 sixth-round pick worked as Cleveland's No. 3 receiver for part of his rookie campaign, including the playoffs, though he drew only 20 targets in 12 regular-season games and three more in the two postseason appearances. Peoples-Jones made the most of his limited opportunities, catching 16 of the 23 targets for 335 yards and two touchdowns while working behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins. With Odell Beckham (knee) seemingly on track for the season opener, Peoples-Jones will need to leapfrog Higgins in order to secure a top-three role. Rookie third-round pick Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) may also have a say in the matter, and the Browns figure to rank near the top of the NFL in usage of multi-TE formations, in any case.

Peoples-Jones caught his lone target for 23 yards over 46 snaps in Sunday's 22-17 playoff loss to the Chiefs.

Even with the return of KhaDarel Hodge, who played eight snaps, Peoples-Jones was the clear third wideout behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins. That's telling as the Browns head into the offseason. The rookie out of Michigan was on the inactive list the first three games of 2020 but eventually earned a greater role when given an opportunity to play. Initially, he was used as the primary returner and fill-in on offense, then gained the confidence of the coaching staff and replaced Hodge. Peoples-Jones finished the regular season with 14 catches, 20 targets, 304 yards and two touchdowns. With Hodge becoming a restricted free agent and Higgins set to be unrestricted in the coming months, Peoples-Jones is poised to be the full-time No. 3 behind Landry and Odell Beckham (knee) when 2021 kicks off.

Peoples-Jones will compete with KhaDarel Hodge for snaps in this weekend's divisional-round playoff game against Kansas City on Sunday.

The Browns activated Hodge from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, after the receiver had missed last week's playoff-opening win over Pittsburgh. The last time both players were completely healthy and available for a full game was Week 12 against Jacksonville, when Peoples-Jones had a 16-percent share of the snaps while Hodge played 43 percent of the snaps. Since then, either player has been inactive due to injury/illness or injured during a game, so it's uncertain how the two will divvy up the load Sunday against Kansas City. Ultimately, it may not matter. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski may want to keep Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes off the field, and that can be best achieved by leaning on running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Peoples-Jones caught one of two targets for eight yards in Sunday's 48-37 wild-card win over Pittsburgh.

Peoples-Jones worked himself back from a concussion suffered Week 17 of the regular season. With KhaDarel Hodge (reserve/COVID-19) unavailable, Peoples-Jones' availability was a welcome development, but he played a minor role in the win, despite playing a significant 46 snaps. The rookie was fifth on the target list behind Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Austin Hooper and Nick Chubb. Cleveland moves onto the AFC divisional round next Sunday for a road game against the No. 1 seed Chiefs.

Peoples-Jones (concussion) is listed as active for Sunday night's playoff opener against the Steelers.

This is good news for the Browns, with KhaDarel Hodge on the reserve/COVID-19 list. In that context, Peoples-Jones, who suffered a concussion during Week 17 action, will give it a go Sunday and will be in the mix for wide receiver snaps and targets behind top options Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins.

Peoples-Jones (concussion) is questionable for Sunday's playoff game against the Steelers, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

The 21-year-old suffered the concussion Week 17, though he'll practice Friday after clearing the concussion protocol, per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. While Peoples-Jones' status is cloudy, he appears on track to play Sunday.

Peoples-Jones (concussion) remained listed as a non-participant on Thursday's practice estimate, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

If Peoples-Jones isn't cleared for Sunday's playoff game against the Steelers, Marvin Hall, Alexander Hollins and possibly Ja'Marcus Bradley could be in the mix for added wideout snaps behind starters Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins this weekend.

Peoples-Jones (concussion) was listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Cleveland just held a walk-through session Wednesday, but Peoples-Jones was the only non-participant on the injury report, which doesn't bode well for his chances of clearing the league's five-step concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's wild-card game in Pittsburgh. The wide receiver and return man will have two more practices to demonstrate progress in his recovery from the concussion he sustained in last weekend's win over the Steelers.

Peoples-Jones was diagnosed with a concussion and won't return to Sunday's game against the Steelers.

Peoples-Jones finished the game with one reception (on three targets) for 11 yards. The rookie wideout will enter the league's five-step concussion protocol. KhaDarel Hodge figures to see an expanded role behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins.

Peoples-Jones was forced out of Sunday's game against the Steelers with a possible concussion, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Prior to his exit from the contest, Peoples-Jones caught one of his three targets for 11 yards. Next up for Cleveland's wide receiver snaps behind Jarvis Landry and Rashard Higgins is KhaDarel Hodge.

The Browns reinstated Peoples-Jones from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

Along with Peoples-Jones, the Browns also activated Rashard Higgins, KhaDarel Hodge, Jarvis Landry and Jacob Phillips after all five players sat out last week's loss to the Jets following their respective placements on the list. Before sitting out the Week 16 game, Peoples-Jones had seemingly usurped Hodge as the Browns' No. 3 receiver. With that in mind, expect Cleveland to deploy Landry, Higgins and Peoples-Jones as their starting receivers in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Steelers.

Peoples-Jones is in line to come off the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The same applies to Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and KhaDarel Hodge, with all four wideouts on track to be available to take the field Thursday, should the Browns hold an actual practice.

The Browns placed Peoples-Jones (undisclosed) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, ruling him out for Sunday's road contest versus the Jets.

In addition to People-Jones, fellow wide receivers Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and KhaDarel Hodge were deemed high-risk close contacts and are unable to suit up Week 16. With just one WR (Marvin Hall) remaining on the active roster, Cleveland elevated Ja'Marcus Bradley and Derrick Willies from the practice squad.

Peoples-Jones (undisclosed) has been deemed a high-risk close contact and may not be available Sunday against the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The same can be said for Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and KhaDarel Hodge. The Browns haven't placed any of the quartet on the reserve/COVID-19 list yet, but a decision on each player's availability may be imminent. If all four are unable to play Sunday, Cleveland will be down to one healthy wide receiver (Marvin Hall) on the active roster.

Peoples-Jones caught all three of his targets for 55 yards in Sunday's 20-6 win over the Giants.

Even with the return of KhaDarel Hodge from a hamstring injury, Peoples-Jones was still part of the wideout rotation. The rookie has been a consistent deep threat since becoming a regular in the lineup. Over the last three weeks, he has eight receptions for an average of 27.6 yards per catch. Going forward, the question is whether Hodge will take on a greater role as his hamstring gets stronger.

The Browns are pleased with Peoples-Jones' development during his rookie season, Dan Labbe of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns used draft capital in 2020 (sixth round) to select Peoples-Jones, who never fulfilled the promise in a highly anticipated college career at Michigan. His size and athleticism were intriguing, though, and he's shown the makeup to overcome setbacks. Peoples-Jones initially replaced JoJo Natson (knee, IR) as the kick returner, but he was eventually replaced by D'Ernest Johnson. On offense, he dropped an easy touchdown on the opening drivein Week 13 against Tennessee but was later targeted for a 75-yard touchdown catch. "No one has played the perfect game. No one has called the perfect game," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "How you respond to those moments is really what matters. You are going to drop a ball. It is going to happen, and then we are going to count on you maybe the next play." The Detroit-native has delivered as a fill-in third wide out with KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) having missed the last two games. Hodge is questionable for Sunday, and Peoples-Jones looks to build off a two-week stretch in which he's caught five passes for 166 yards (33.2 YPC) and a touchdown.

Peoples-Jones caught three of five targets for 74 yards in Monday's 47-42 loss to the Ravens.

The rookie out of Michigan showed off his big-play ability for the second straight week by catching a 37-yard pass, and he has 166 receiving yards the last two weeks as a fill-in for No. 3 wideout KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring). For the season, Peoples-Jones is averaging 23.8 yards per reception.

Peoples-Jones caught two of three targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-35 win over the Titans.

Peoples-Jones was one of four receivers to score a touchdown in a franchise-best first half. His 75-yard score erased the memory of a red-zone drop on the game's first drive that led to Cleveland settling for a field goal. The rookie, who had a larger role than normal Sunday, may not play as significant an offensive role in Week 14 depending on the health of KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring).

Peoples-Jones is slated to serve as the Browns' No. 3 wideout Sunday against the Titans, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Peoples-Jones has made his biggest impact for the Browns as a return man in recent weeks, but he'll get the chance to fill a regular spot in three-receiver sets Sunday while KhaDarel Hodge (hamstring) is sidelined. Don't expect the rookie sixth-round pick to see much work in the passing game, however, as the Browns have been the most run-heavy offense in the NFL this season.