Grant Delpit designated for return from injured reserve by Cleveland Browns

BEREA — Grant Delpit is one step closer to getting back on the field for the Browns.

The fourth-year safety was designated for return from injured reserve by the team on Wednesday. Delpit had been on the injured reserve list since sustaining a groin injury during the Week 14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The move means Delpit can practice on the field with the team. The Browns (11-6) could activate him, if they believe he's ready to go, in time for Saturday's AFC Wild Card game at the Houston Texans.

Delpit was on the field going through individual drills during the portion of practice open to the media Wednesday, as was most of the Browns players. Only receiver Amari Cooper, kicker Dustin Hopkins and receiver Cedric Tillman were not on the field.

Prior to practice, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz deferred to head coach Kevin Stefanski on whether or not Delpit would be able to make his game return in his hometown of Houston.

"It's a good first step for him," Schwartz said. "He's been working extremely hard. I mean, you talk about a driven dude, I mean he is, he's been really driven to get back. We'll see where it goes."

The safety was one of 13 players on the team's injured reserve list. That included nine starters/key contributors: Delpit, quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder), running back Nick Chubb (knee), left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee), right tackle Jack Conklin (knee), right tackle Dawand Jones (knee), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (pectoral muscle), linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) and safety Rodney McLeod (bicep).

Safety Juan Thornhill, the other starter opposite Delpit and, at times, McLeod, has also battled a calf injury that has limited him over the last month of the regular season. He's missed six games this season, including four of the last five, due to a calf injury.

Rookie Ronnie Hickman, second-year pro D'Anthony Bell and 11-year veteran Duron Harmon, who originally signed with the practice squad in November, have been the primary safeties over the last month. All three of them have had at least one interception in that span, including two by Bell.

"I can't say enough good things about those guys," Schwartz said. "They were four or five and not on the depth chart at the beginning of the year. They've come in and played really good football for us. … Having lost our top three safeties for significant portions, the game doesn't care, playoffs don't care who's playing. So those guys have stepped up and have been able to do their job in our scheme."

Delpit was injured in the fourth quarter against the Jaguars while trying to blitz Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence. He appeared to pull it right before he went in toward Lawrence, leading him to fall down and actually collided with teammate Myles Garrett's knee on the way to the ground.

The former 2020 second-pick out of LSU had 77 total tackles this season, which was a team high at the time of the injury. The Browns signed Delpit to a new three-year, $36 million — $23 million guaranteed — contract extension on Dec. 11, a day after the injury occurred.

The Browns also designated cornerback Kalon Barnes to the practice squad.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Grant Delpit designated for return from injured reserve by Browns