Situation with Rashard Higgins is Peculiar
As the Cleveland Browns took the practice field for the first of two practices during their bye week, wide receiver Rashard Higgins answered questions from the media and discussed his frustrations with not playing, despite the fact he says he was healthy both this week and last week.
Higgins was active Sunday but didn't play. The reasoning is supposed to be a case of believing Antonio Callaway was a better matchup against the Seatttle Seahawks than Higgins, which sounds good, but they can be on the field at the same time. The Browns seemingly had a talent advantage going four wide against a defense reliant on linebacker play.
Rashard Higgins wasn't drafted by John Dorsey, instead selected as a fifth round pick by the previous regime led by Sashi Brown. In situations like these, some believe Dorsey and this front office are playing favorites, choosing to hold back players like Higgins in favor of players added under their watch. While it's possible, it's unlikely.
Freddie Kitchens has never been afraid to use players he believes can help him win, regardless of how they got here. Nevertheless, the situation with Higgins, a player that has consistently helped the Browns and been a trusted target for Mayfield when he's on the field, is strange. It might be as simple as being exactly what Kitchens said, someone who has been pretty open and honest about his thought process, perhaps to his detriment a times, in which case it seems like a poor choice.
Higgins says he will expects to play when the Browns face off against the New England Patriots after the bye week.
UPDATE: Freddie Kitchens said at his media availability that the bye week was best for Higgins’ health to get him back to 100 percent. Kitchens took the same approach with Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams, though they were inactive for the game while Higgins was active, apparently as an emergency option.
