CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns are waiting for wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins to return from injuries sustained in recent weeks, but they got back another pass catcher in preparation for the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football on October 7.
On Sunday, talented receiver Antonio Callaway finished his four-game suspension for a positive drug test and is eligible to return to the team and play in this coming Monday’s game.
“He has to prove that he knows what to do, knows how to do it and knows when to do it,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “Other than that, Antonio has played. He knows how to play the game. I am glad he is back.”
Although Callaway has not been on a football field since August, he may have an increased workload in the Monday night game.
Currently, Landry is in the NFL Concussion Protocol after suffering a head injury in the second half of last Sunday’s 40-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. Prior to suffering the injury, Landry caught eight passes for 167 yards, including a game-high 65-yard reception in the first half.
“They play sort of the same spots on normal down and distance type stuff,” Kitchens said. “We will have to see how that all fits in.”
Callaway’s career with the Browns got off to a rocky start as the fourth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft was cited in Strongsville for driving with a suspended license and marijuana possession in the early-morning hours on a day off from training camp.
But despite the early mistake extending a pattern of off-the-field incidents from the University of Florida that dropped his stock in the draft, Callaway turned in a solid rookie season with 43 receptions for 586 yards, five touchdowns and 27 first downs in 16 games.
“He has great acceleration into the ball,” Kitchens said. “Once he gets the ball into his hands, he can do something, too. It is always good to have guys who can do something with the football, and Antonio is definitely one of those guys. I am glad he is back.”