Browns get started early with one cut in OL Gabe Ikard

When the NFL announced that there would only be one cutdown date in 2017 from 90 to 53 players, one of the things I tried to emphasize was that teams could still put through their own incremental cuts prior to the fourth preseason game. Cleveland appears to be taking that advice to an extent.

On Monday, the Browns announced that they’ve released offensive lineman Gabe Ikard. In 2016, the Browns claimed Ikard off waivers from the Bills after C Cameron Erving had to leave a game with an “illness.” Ikard was listed as the team’s backup center for a stretch of time, but didn’t end up seeing any action.

Ikard had been dealing with a concussion for most of training camp, and wasn’t in the best spirits about hearing the news Monday morning:

The Browns’ roster was at 88 players heading into the third preseason game. They didn’t sign anyone to replace Ikard and are unlikely to with the final preseason game coming up on Thursday, so they now sit at 87 players.