New development from Fox:Cleveland defense looks more stout for addition
The Browns (11-6) have one of the best defenses, if not the best, in the league. Bad news for the other 13 teams in the playoffs, it just got a little bit better on Wednesday morning.
Cleveland announced that standout safety Grant Delpit is returning from injured reserve ahead of its wild-card round matchup against the Texans (10-7) on Saturday. The 25-year-old was placed on IR in December after suffering a groin injury in Week 14.
It was certainly a blow to the defense, which is allowing the least total yards per game (270.2) in the NFL. Delpit was the Browns’ leading tackler at the time.
However, he still finished with the second most tackles on the team (80) despite missing the final four games of the regular season. The fourth-year safety also had 1.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one interception and three passes defensed on the year.
Second-year safety D’Anthony Bell did fill in nicely in Delpit’s absence, totaling 22 tackles, one forced fumble, two interceptions and four passes defensed in Weeks 15-18. Delpit still brings a much higher upside as a second-round pick in 2020.