The Cleveland Browns announced Wednesday they have claimed wide receiver Damion Willis off waivers.
Willis, 23, originally signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Troy in 2019.
No corresponding move is necessary as the Browns will receive a roster exemption for Willis and he will not count against the roster limit until he is allowed in the building after undergoing COVID-19 testing.
We've claimed WR Damion Willis
Details » https://t.co/yLuU69jU0F pic.twitter.com/UgIJokFgTi
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 26, 2020
On Tuesday, the Bengals announced they would waive the 6-foot-3, 204-pound receiver.
In late July, the Bengals put Willis on the PUP list.
Perhaps the Browns are looking to add more receiver depth behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry.
It’s unclear which player specifically will emerge as the Browns’ third receiver among Willis, KhaDarel Hodge, Damion Ratley, Rashard Higgins, Taywan Taylor, D.J. Montgomery, J’Mon Moore, JoJo Natson and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
However, first-year head coach Kevin Stefanski has a tendency to use tighter offensive formations.
Last season as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings, Stefanski led the NFL by using multiple tight end sets 57% of the time, according to ESPN’s Jake Trotter.
The Browns have depth at the tight end position with two-time Pro Bowler Austin Hooper, David Njoku, and rookie Harrison Bryant.
The Browns will have to figure out how to distribute the ball among the receivers, tight ends and Pro Bowl running backs Nick Chubb (2019) and Kareem Hunt (2017).
Last season, Willis had nine catches on 16 targets for 82 yards in 10 games for the Bengals.
Willis did not play in either game between the Browns and Bengals last season.
In 2019, Willis started two games, played 200 snaps on offense and 39 snaps on special teams.
Willis had 56 receptions for 876 yards and 10 touchdowns for Troy in 2018.
In 2017, Willis led Troy with 620 receiving yards and received an honorable mention in the All-Sun Belt Conference.
Before playing in 2017-2018 at Troy, Willis began his college career at East Mississippi Community College.
Willis appeared in the Netflix show “Last Chance U” while at EMCC.
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