Browns make roster moves before Week 8 matchup in London

The Cleveland Browns activated practice squad tight end Matt Lengel to fill the team’s active roster spot vacated by Joe Thomas’ injured reserve designation.

It’s never going to not feel weird writing Joe Thomas and injured reserve in the same sentence.

In addition, they added offensive lineman Victor Salako to the opening Lengel’s activation created on their practice squad. The Browns practice squad now has three offensive linemen in Zach Sterup, Andrew Wylie and Salako.

Lengel, a 6-foot- 7, 265-pound second-year player out of Eastern Kentucky, signed on with the Browns practice squad on Oct. 12.

It’s possible Lengel was activated due to his size and the team’s need to support new left tackle Spencer Drango. Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen is a terror, and Hue Jackson knows it. Jackson said he has contingency plans to help Drango in slowing down the Vikes’ best pass-rusher, who by the way has seven sacks through seven games. That could mean Lengel will see significant snaps just a little over two weeks after joining the organization.

Salako, 23, a former two-year offensive tackle starter at Oklahoma State, is another large body the Browns have taken some interest in. He’s 6-foot-6 and weighs 335 pounds. While athleticism has been a problem for him, the Browns are obviously intrigued by his size and are going to try to see if he’s moldable. Salako’s a long-shot to play anytime soon, but stranger things have happened late in seasons in Cleveland.