Behind The Scenes with Former Browns WR Daylen Baldwin
There's always a handful of players who make a name for themselves during the early parts of training camp.
One of those names for the Browns was wide receiver Daylen Baldwin, who signed with Cleveland last year during camp as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan.
Ever since signing with the Browns, Baldwin has just been doing everything right and earned himself a spot on the 53-man roster down the final stretch of the NFL season.
Heading into this preseason, Baldwin was in another battle to make the Browns roster in a very crowded wide receiver room.
Early on in camp, Baldwin found himself working in with the first team, getting crucial reps with starters and allowing himself to continue building his case to make the roster.
"I feel like I was prepared," Baldwin said. "Coach trusted me to go in there and make the plays and really just do my job at the end of the day."
Baldwin was impressive all throughout the Browns trip to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia for an early portion of the teams training camp.
Baldwin was a bit sore during the days leading up to the Hall of Fame game, in which the Jets and Browns traveled to Canton, Ohio to kick off the NFL season.
Every player in the NFL is sore and Baldwin truly thought nothing of it. Baldwin thought it was simply his body getting used to camp.
It all come together quickly, though.
On the first play of the second quarter, "I had a deep route, ended up running pretty fast and as soon as I was about to hit top speed, I heard a pop," Baldwin said.
Baldwin walked off the field under his own power, waved for a different teammate to enter the game for him and immediately went into the medical tent with trainers on the Browns sideline.
"I kind of knew something was messed up back there," Baldwin said. "I didn't I know exactly what it was but I knew I really had hurt something and this is my first time feeling that."
Trainers in the tent weren't sure exactly what the injury was at first. They compared both hamstrings and didn't notice anything drastically different.
As Baldwin was sitting in the tent, trainers walked back in after consulting with Browns head athletic trainer Joe Sheehan and was informed that he probably tore something but an MRI would be needed to confirm.
To the disappointment of Baldwin, the next morning, an MRI revealed exactly that. The exact diagnosis was that he tore his hamstring semitendinosus tendon off the bone.
Baldwin and his team have been working closely with highly respected Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who is the head team physician for both the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Currently, Baldwin and his team are rehabbing at the Motus facility in California with Dr. Drew Morcos, the head physcian for the Los Angeles Lakers and sticking to a strict, detailed plan.
Baldwin is working on low maintenance strengthening and will start doing more movements in the coming weeks.
The current expectation is for Baldwin to be back to 100 percent around Week 6 or 7. Once officially cleared, Baldwin will be eligible to sign with any team, except for the Browns due to an NFL rule forcing Cleveland to wait an additional three-to-four weeks to sign the 23-year-old back.
Therefore, if Baldwin does sign back with the Browns, the earliest he would be able to see the field in around Week 9 or 10.
There is strong, mutual interest between the Browns and Baldwin to rejoin the Browns following his recovery.
However, there are several other teams who have expressed interest in signing Baldwin as well, who would have a several week jump start to pry him away from the Browns.
Baldwin has a ton of respect for the Browns and greatly appreciates the organization.
"I like it there. Regardless if I were to come back or not, I know they are gonna be a championship team, they have a championship roster. Also, they believed in me. They gave me my first opportunity, I appreciate the coaches there and everything. Then an add on is playing with D Wat and stuff like that. It's about the little things, having good teammates and good people around you."
Baldwin is focused on his rehab plan more than anything, however understands the bigger picture and is ready to see where his journey takes him next.
"I'm not a draft pick, I came in undrafted. I gotta make sure I come in with my best foot forward to make sure wherever I go next they understand me, respect me and see that I'm an elite receiver and I feel like Cleveland views me as such."
