Taddeus Lewis could go from playing with the practice squad to starting in an NFL game in just a week’s time. With shoulder injuries being sustained by both Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy, it was the recently added Lewis who is taking first-team snaps during practice heading into the Browns’ Week 17 tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
On Christmas Eve, the Browns announced that they had placed wide recever Mohammed Massaquoi on the injured reserve while promoting Lewis from the practice squad. Lewis appeared in all four preseason games with the Browns, going 9-for-17 for 146 yards throught the air, adding an interception. He was inactive for the first five games this season before clearing waivers and being moved to the practice squad.
If Weeden and McCoy cannot go, it will be the recently added Josh Johnson who will be the back-up to Lewis.
“We would have to pare [the offense] way down,” Shumur said of Lewis potentially starting.
On the other side of the ball, the Browns will be going to battle with just three safeties on the roster in Eric Hagg, Tashaun Gipson and Ray Ventrone. TJ Ward and Usama Young have been placed on the injured reserve in consecutive weeks.
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