While the Cleveland Browns may be fairly criticized for trading out of the second-overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft that could have landed them current Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, who has played well as a rookie, they can’t be faulted for the player they ended up landing in the first round at the 15th overall spot, wide receiver Corey Coleman, who immediately entered the starting lineup—albeit against minimal competition.
The only problem is that he has missed almost all of the season after he suffered a broken hand during the week of practice following the Browns’ second game of the season—in which Coleman played very well. Against the Ravens, in what realistically should have been a victory, at one point with a 20-0 lead, Coleman caught five passes for 104 yards and two touchdowns.
His total output for the season in just two games was seven catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 24.7 yards per reception, including grabs of 47 and 58 yards. It should probably be mentioned that those throws were coming from two different quarterbacks.
But after missing six games, Coleman is set to make his return to the field on Sunday against the Cowboys, in Dallas, which just so happens to be his home town, meaning that he is going to be playing in front of tons of friends and family, making his first game back all the more special. And he expects to pick up right where he left off.
I base that off the fact that “I expect to pick right back up” is a direct quote from him, so I assume that my characterization of his position on this topic is a faithful one to reality. One reason that he feels so confident that he will be able to slide right back in to where he was is because the team “had a plan for me that was really good” throughout the injury process.
When asked if there is a chance for some rust from Coleman being out so long, head coach Hue Jackson said that “there could be”, but he noted that “we kept him in quite a bit”, referring to his involvement with all stages of the team, “when he wasn’t available to catch the ball”.
While the Browns may have gotten off to a truly awful 0-8 start to the season, at the very least, it could be said that things are starting to look up, as far as the injury front goes anyway. Last week, they were able to get quarterback Josh McCown back, who has been out since the second game of the season, after he took over the starting job following the season opener.
While Coleman back in the lineup as well, the offense at least is much closer to full strength than they have been in a long, long time. But, if we’re being honest, the Cowboys are probably not the team that will yield them their first win of the season.
