The Browns signed Darden from the practice squad to the active roster Tuesday.
Darden had already reached his maximum of three elevations from the practice squad, meaning he had to be inked to the 53-man roster in order to contribute Sunday against the Chargers. The 25-year-old will continue working as a key punt returner for the Browns, as well as playing a depth role on offense.
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Jaelon Darden: Reverts to practice squad
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Darden reverted to the Browns' practice squad Monday.
Darden didn't record any offensive stats across four snaps played, but he did contribute on special teams as he returned three punts for 36 yards. The 25-year-old has now been elevated for the maximum amount of three games and will have to be signed to the active roster if he's to play again for the Browns this season.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: Elevated for Week 8
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The Browns elevated Darden from the practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Ravens, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Darden will have his third possible practice squad elevation utilized for Week 8. The fourth-year pro has been promoted off the practice squad for each of Cleveland's last two games. He played 13 percent of offensive snaps in both contests, while also contributing as a key punt returner.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: Elevated to active roster
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The Browns promoted Darden to the active roster Saturday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
This marks the second week in a row Darden has been elevated. He played seven of 57 offensive snaps in last week's 20-16 loss to Philadelphia and caught one pass for six yards. He also returned two punts for 26 yards. He figures to be in line for a similar workload Sunday versus the Bengals.
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Jaelon Darden: Back to practice squad
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Darden reverted to the Browns' practice squad Monday, according to the NFL's official transaction log.
The wide receiver played on seven of 57 offensive snaps, caught one pass for six yards and returned two punts for 26 yards during Cleveland's 20-16 loss to Philadelphia on Sunday. Darden ranked behind Jerry Jeudy (52 snaps), Amari Cooper (47 snaps), Elijah Moore (38 snaps) and Cedric Tillman (21 snaps) in total snap count.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: One catch in loss
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Darden caught his lone target for six yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Eagles in Week 6. He also returned two punts for 26 yards.
Darden was activated from the practice squad for the second time this season after the Browns released James Proche on Saturday. Darden finished with seven snaps on offense and could be in line for a role as the primary returner, if Cleveland signs him to the active roster. He has experience returning both kicks and punts during all four seasons of his NFL career.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: Gets elevated for Week 6
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Cleveland elevated Darden from its practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Darden will be available for the Browns for the second time this season at the Eagles. In his first outing in Week 1 versus the Cowboys, he returned five punts for 72 yards and four kickoffs for 97 yards.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: Primary returner in Week 1
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Darden returned five punts for 72 yards and four kickoffs for 97 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1. He did not play on offense.
Darden, who was signed to the roster Saturday as a replacement for the waived David Bell, became the team's primary returner for all kicks. His addition paid early dividends when his 28-yard punt return in the first quarter led to a field goal, giving Cleveland its only lead of the game. Darden has been with the organization since the Browns claimed him late in the 2022 season but has appeared in only four games. The NFL's rule changes to inject new life into kickoff returns could make Darden a fixture on the game-day roster in 2024, however.
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Jaelon Darden: Back with Cleveland
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The Browns signed Darden to the practice squad Wednesday.
The 2021 fourth-round pick finished the preseason with four catches (on eight targets) for 70 yards. He spent most of 2023 with the Browns' practice squad, and he will reprise that role for the upcoming season.
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Jaelon Darden: Let go by Cleveland
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The Browns waived Darden on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
A fourth-round pick by Tampa Bay in 2021, Darden was claimed off waivers by Cleveland in December of 2022 and bounced back and forth from the practice squad last season. This preseason, Darden caught four passes for 70 scoreless yards. He'll look for an opportunity elsewhere but could be a candidate for the practice squad again.
Darden signed a reserve/future contract with the Browns on Monday.
The wide receiver was on the Browns' practice squad at the end of the season. Darden appeared in one game and during which he logged nine special-teams snaps in 2023.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: Held out Saturday
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Darden (leg) is not expected to play Saturday against the Chiefs, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Darden had been cleared to participate in seven-on-seven drills earlier this week, but that's evidently not enough for him to see action on the field Saturday. The 2021 fourth-round pick of the Buccaneers is likely on the roster fringes for the Browns and will need to get healthy quickly if he's to have a shot at making the opening 53-man roster.
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Browns' Jaelon Darden: In depth WR mix
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Darden is listed as second on the unofficial depth chart at one wideout position behind Amari Cooper for Thursday's Hall of Fame Game against the Jets, the Browns' official site reports.
Darden jumped Anthony Schwartz on the depth chart and appears to benefit from Marquise Goodwin (blood clots) landing on the active/non-football illness list. Darden is also listed as the third kickoff and punt returner.
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Jaelon Darden: Loses roster spot
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Darden was waived by the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Darden has played in all 12 games for the Bucs this season, mainly handling return duties while seeing limited snaps on offense. It's currently unclear if he'll be brought back to the team's practice squad if he is able to clear waivers. Rachaad White and Scotty Miller will be candidates to replace Darden as return men.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: Busy day as returner
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Darden did not log any snaps on offense but returned eight punts for 82 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.
It was an extremely busy day on special teams for Darden, who recorded a career high in return yardage on an afternoon when the Rams were about as inept at sustaining drives as the Buccaneers. Darden continues to be among the league's most efficient return men, now averaging 10.6 yards on his 27 punt runbacks overall.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: Continues shining on returns
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Darden returned two punts for 33 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-22 loss to the Ravens on Thursday night.
Darden once again was a non-factor on offense but continued to shine in his punt returner role. The second-year speedster ripped off runbacks of 18 and 15 yards, pushing his average in that category to a stellar 10.7 yards per return.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: Logs three punt returns in Week 6
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Darden returned three punts for 14 yards during the Buccaneers' 20-18 loss to the Steelers in Week 6.
The second-year wideout failed to see a snap on offense for the first time all season, but he continued to deliver solid production on his punt-return opportunities. Darden's average of 9.6 yards on punt runbacks ties him for 10th overall in the league and qualifies as the fourth highest of players that have logged double-digit returns, while his 125 yards are good for sixth most.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: Back in full Thursday
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Darden (tooth) practiced fully Thursday.
Darden missed Wednesday's practice due to a tooth issue, but his return as a full participant in Thursday's session suggests he'll likely be available for Sunday's game against the Steelers. The second-year receiver has just one catch for 25 yards through the Buccaneers first five contests, and he'll likely see very limited snaps on offense once again this weekend in Pittsburgh.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: Limited to pair of punt returns
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Darden didn't log a target over his 11 snaps from scrimmage and returned two punts for 40 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-15 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Darden's second-highest snap count from scrimmage of the season didn't net him any production, but he was impressive yet again in his primary role as punt returner. Darden has now netted 111 yards on nine punt runbacks, and his elite speed and elusiveness should eventually help him garner some targets on offense.
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Buccaneers' Jaelon Darden: No stats in Week 4 loss
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Darden logged six snaps on offense and one on special teams during the Buccaneers' 41-31 loss to the Chiefs in Week 4, but he did not draw a target or return a punt.
It was an extremely quiet night for Darden despite the fact Julio Jones exited the game after one second-half snap due to a knee issue and Breshad Perriman (knee/hamstring) was inactive. Darden's one usually dependable path to touches, punt returns, also failed to materialize, as the prolific Chiefs offense punted only once, which resulted in a fair catch by Darden. The 2021 fourth-round pick has just one reception this season, but the combination of Cole Beasley's retirement and the lingering injuries to both Jones and Perriman could serve to open up opportunity on offense in coming games.
