Grant to Return Kicks for First Time as Brown

Browns wide receiver Jakeem Grant will play in his first game for the Browns in their preseason finale in Kansas City on Saturday. Grant is trying to make his case to make the team.

Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski spoke to reporters before Wednesday's practice. During the media session, Stefanski said that wide receiver Jakeem Grant will return his first kicks in Saturday's game since rupturing his achilles tendon over a year ago.

For Grant, it appears the time is now or never, as he makes his final bid to make the 53-man roster. The former All-Pro return man has yet to make an appearance in a game during the preseason. He has spent training camp working his way back from the brutal injury he suffered last year. The team has increased his work load over the last few weeks and has been the first man up over the past few days, returning kicks in practice.

In his absence this preseason, no-one has been able to impress with their opportunities. Running backs Demetric Felton and Hassan Hall have shared the bulk of duties but neither has flashed much. If Grant can show that he still has some burst post-injury, it should go a long way in securing the final roster spot in the receiving room. 

Many are floating the idea of keeping seven receivers on the roster and keeping both Grant and Austin Watkins Jr. I really don't think the team can afford that luxury and will have to make a tough decision between the two. Fortunately for Grant, he brings a skill set to the room that nobody else possesses. In addition to returning kicks, Grant can also be a threat with gadget-plays and can help stretch the field vertically.

When Stefanski was asked if he needs to see Grant on offense in a game before making a decision on his roster spot, he quickly replied "no." It will all boil down to Grant being close to his old form on kicks which we really can't say yet until he does it during live action.