Browns quick hits: Joe Haeg, Jesse James at practice, Drew Forbes, Jordan Kunaszyk waived

BEREA — The Browns were active on Sunday, getting deals done to bolster the offensive line and tight end rooms. With those moves comes corresponding moves to keep the roster at the 53-man limit.

On Monday, the Browns waived offensive lineman Drew Forbes and linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk. The Browns also officially announced the signings of veteran offensive lineman Joe Haeg and tight end Jesse James.

Kunasyzk was signed on Tuesday to the practice squad. That fills 15 of the 16 spots on that group.

Haeg and James were both on the field for Monday morning's practice. How much, if at all, either will play in Sunday's opener at the Carolina Panthers, coach Kevin Stefanski said remained up in the air.

“I think it remains to be seen," Stefanski said. "I think we’re working through that certainly today and into Wednesday about what they can handle physically and mentally.”

In Haeg, the Browns have bolstered the depth at the tackle position. There's been questions specifically about that position, with right tackle Jack Conklin working his way back from last year's torn patellar tendon and key reserve tackle Chris Hubbard having spent the previous week working off to the side.

Haeg had been cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. A former 2016 fifth-round pick, Haeg has played in 79 games between stints with the Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he won a Super Bowl in 2020, and the Steelers.

Stefanski stopped short of saying Haeg was insurance in case Conklin can't start against the Panthers.

”Not in those words," he said. "I would just tell you tackle depth is really important in this league and I felt like he was somebody that was available that was really a good player.”

James, meanwhile, provides a third tight end on the 53-man roster behind David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. The eighth-year pro out of Penn State played a year ago for the Chicago Bears after stints with the Steelers, who drafted him, and the Detroit Lions.

In 102 career games, James has 157 catches for 1,522 yards and 12 touchdowns.

"I remember seeing him my rookie year when he was in Pittsburgh," Njoku said Monday. "And he’s a great talent. So I’m excited that he’s with us."

Forbes was a 2019 sixth-round pick of the Browns out of Southeast Missouri State. He played in three games in the 2019 and 2021 seasons, and opted out of the COVID-19 impacted 2020 season.

"Not everybody's Joel Bitonio":Experience and perspective with Cleveland Browns boost All-Pro guard's talent

Kunaszyk was signed during training camp after playing 17 combined games the past two seasons in Washington. A University of California product, he originally came into the league with the Panthers in 2019, playing nine games.

Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy:Cleveland Browns can't rely on Deshaun Watson to be 'savior that rallies a poor team'

Jack Conklin remains up in the air for start at Carolina Panthers

The big question around the Browns' offensive line heading into the opener is still the status of Conklin. He's been a full participant in practice for several weeks now, but he's also been given multiple days off as part of the plan to bring him back.

Stefanski has maintained for more than a week that he wasn't going to rush into a decision on whether or not Conklin would start at right tackle for the opener. That didn't change with Monday's practice.

"Definitely want to see how today’s practice went," Stefanski said. "It is all about, for Jack, stacking days on top of each other, back-to-back practices and those type of things.”

Jadeveon Clowney, Chris Hubbard, Ronnie Harrison Jr. back on field

The area where the training staff works with injured players was empty on Monday, the first time since training camp began. The arrival of game week certainly contributed to that fact.

That meant the return to practice for some key players, particularly on defense. That list includes defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. and cornerback A.J. Green.

Hubbard also returned after having been out for more than a week.

Myles Garrett expected back Monday

Defensive end Myles Garrett was not back for Monday's morning practice after the extended weekend. Stefanski, though, said he was expected back in the facility later in the day.

Garrett has missed time both in training camp as well as last Thursday, spending time with an ill family member back in Texas. His absence Monday, as has been the case with the previous ones, was excused.

Past season-opening results no concern for Kevin Stefanski

Few stats epitomize the struggles the Browns have had since the rebirth of the franchise in 1999 than their record in season openers. They are 1-21-1 in the first game of the year, with the lone win coming in 2004 against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Browns also tied the Steelers in the 2018 opener.

“I really don’t worry about that," Stefanski said. "I don’t. I worry about trying to go 1-0 versus a good football team on the road. I can promise you there are a lot of guys in here who are brand new to this organization and new players. They do not really concern themselves about the past.”

Christian McCaffrey not a mystery for Browns defense

Panthers star running back Christian McCaffrey missed 10 games a year ago due to injury. That's part of a two-year stretch during which he's only played in 10 out of a possible 33 games because of a laundry list of injuries, including sprains and/or strains to both of his ankles, his shoulder, his glute and his hamstring.

When healthy, McCaffrey's one of the most versatile backs in the league. His last full season, in 2019, he earned All-Pro honors after leading the NFL in total scrimmage yards with 2,392, touches (403) and total touchdowns (19).

That's the McCaffrey the Browns know about. That's the one they're preparing for, even though he hasn't played in any of the Panthers' preseason games.

"Oh, he has tons of tape," safety John Johnson III said. "I mean, they aren't just going to go out there and make things up with him. He has things that he's really, really good at. I don't think they're going to shy away from those things. We've got to get ready for them. But he has tons of tape to watch."

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Offensive lineman Drew Forbes waived by Cleveland Browns