Bears' Stephen Carlson: Placed on IR with collarbone injury
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The Bears placed Carlson (collarbone) on injured reserve Saturday, Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Carlson suffered a serious collarbone injury during Thursday's practice session, just two days after being signed from the Bears' practice squad to the active roster. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four games, so the earliest Carlson can return is Week 9 against the Cardinals on Nov. 3.
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Stephen Carlson: Sticks around in Windy City
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Carlson signed with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Carlson appeared in one regular-season game for the Bears in 2023 and spent most of the year on the taxi squad. He was gunning for a spot on Chicago's 53-man roster during training camp, but he wasn't able to do so after finishing the preseason with five catches (on six targets) for 36 yards. Carlson could be promoted to the active roster during the upcoming season should Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett or Marcedes Lewis miss time.
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Stephen Carlson: Released by Chicago
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The Bears released Carlson on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The 27-year-old tight end bounced between the practice squad and active roster with Chicago last season but appeared in just one game. He hasn't caught a regular-season pass since 2020 with the Browns and has just six career grabs for 62 yards and one touchdown.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Gets reserve/future contract
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The Bears signed Carlson to a reserve/future contract Monday, Larry Mayer of the team's official website reports.
Carlson spent most of the season on Chicago's practice squad, but he only saw the field in one game. He played one special-teams snap in Week 10 versus the Panthers. The 27-year-old will now attempt to put the work in during the offseason to ultimately earn a spot on the Bears' roster in the 2024 campaign.
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Stephen Carlson: Reverts to practice squad
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Carlson reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Carlson was elevated to Chicago's active roster Saturday, but he was ultimately ruled inactive prior to the game. Thus, he will continue to try and impress at practice while awaiting a new opportunity to get called up.
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Stephen Carlson: Back in Windy City
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Carlson is signing with the Bears' practice squad Wednesday, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Carlson was unable to land a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster this year but will attempt to find a role as part of the practice squad. He spent the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Browns but has dealt with injuries in recent seasons.
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Stephen Carlson: Gets cut loose
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Carlson was waived by the Bears on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Carlson had injuries derail his career after spending 2019 and 2020 with the Browns. The Princeton product was working to bounce back with Chicago after agreeing to a deal with the team in May, but he ultimately came up short.
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Bears' Stephen Carlson: Headed to Chicago
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Carlson agreed to a one-year contract with Chicago on Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
The tight end out of Princeton is going from Cleveland to Chicago after signing with the Bears on Saturday. He hasn't played in the NFL since 2020, but in his last two active seasons with Cleveland he recorded six catches for 62 yards and one touchdown while acting as a special teams ace, playing over 80 percent of the special teams snaps. This is the third tight end Chicago has brought in this offseason, as the team also lured Robert Tonyan away from Green Bay and signed Damien Caffrey as an undrafted free agent.
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Stephen Carlson: Not tendered by Cleveland
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Carlson (knee) became an unrestricted free agent Wednesday after the Browns opted not to tender him a contract for 2022, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
Carlson sat out the 2021 campaign after requiring season-ending knee surgery in late August. He appeared in all 16 games during 2020 and caught one pass for 11 yards.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Reverts to IR
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Carlson (knee) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
Carlson will now be able to rejoin the team, but he'll remain on injured reserve after he underwent season-ending knee surgery in mid-August. The 25-year-old had a strong performance in camp and could compete for a 53-man roster spot in 2022.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Requires knee surgery
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Carlson will undergo surgery on his knee and miss the entire 2021 season, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Carlson suffered the injury during Saturday's preseason opener versus the Jaguars, and there will be no chance of him retaking the field this season. He appeared in 16 games for Cleveland last year and caught one of two targets for 11 yards while primarily playing special teams.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Season-ending injury feared
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There are fears that Carlson suffered a season-ending knee injury in Saturday's preseason opener against Jacksonville, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
The severity of Carlson's knee injury hasn't been confirmed yet, but it sounds like he'll be facing a lengthy absence. This is an unfortunate turn of events for the tight end, who had been enjoying a strong camp and was on track to secure a spot on the Browns' 53-man roster.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Sticking with Cleveland
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Carlson signed his exclusive-rights contract tender with the Browns on Wednesday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Carlson returns to a crowded tight-end room, one which currently features Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku above him on him on the depth chart. Over his past two seasons in Cleveland, Carlson totaled six receptions for 62 yards and one score in 25 appearances.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Tendered rights
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The Browns tendered Carlson as an exclusive rights free agent Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Carlson entered the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent and will now stay in Cleveland. Through his two seasons with the team, the tight end has caught six of his nine targets for 62 yards and one touchdown.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Unused on offense in playoff loss
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Carlson was active but did not play an offensive snap in Sunday's 22-17 playoff loss to the Chiefs.
Carlson had just one catch, two targets and 11 receiving yards during the regular season, serving as the fourth tight end. With the top three tight ends for the Browns under contract for 2021, he'll play a similar role should Cleveland bring him back. He becomes an exclusive rights free agent during the offseason.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Gearing up Sunday
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Carlson (groin) will play in Sunday's AFC divisional round against the Chiefs.
Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and David Njoku are all healthy for Sunday's playoff game, so Carlson will mainly contribute on special teams.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Questionable for Sunday
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Carlson (groin) did not practice Friday and is questionable for Sunday's AFC divisional-round game against the Chiefs, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Carlson appears truly iffy for Sunday's game, but his presence likely won't impact Cleveland's offense one way or another. He saw just two targets through 16 regular-season games in 2020, and both Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant are set for Sunday while No.3 tight end David Njoku (hamstring) is questionable.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Moves up depth chart
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Carlson is expected to receive more playing time with David Njoku (knee) on injured reserve, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Carlson played just 12 snaps (16 percent) and had one target in the season-opening loss to the Ravens but moved up to third on the depth chart behind Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. He broadly fits into the category of blocking tight end, but quarterback Baker Mayfield uses tight ends as red-zone scoring options. Carlson caught five of seven targets with one touchdown in 2019.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Leads TEs in snaps
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Carlson failed to catch his only target and played 41 snaps in Sunday's 27-19 win over the Bengals in Week 14.
He was the starting tight end, as Demetrius Harris (shoulder) was made inactive and David Njoku was appearing for the first time since Week 2 after recovering from a wrist injury. Carlson's 41 snaps led the position group, but it was Njoku who drew the most targets (three), including one inside the red zone. As Njoku gets back up to speed, he is expected to start games and receive the most playing time among Cleveland tight ends.
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Browns' Stephen Carlson: Upgrades to full practice
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Carlson (ankle) was a full participant in Friday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Carlson does not carry an injury designation for Sunday's contest against the Bengals. The 22-year-old is set for his usual depth role in Cleveland's tight end corps Week 14.
