Jerry Jeudy is headed back to Denver as the Cleveland Browns prep for a Monday night game against the Broncos.
With the Broncos (7-5) in playoff contention and having been flexed in Week 16 to a Thursday night marquee spot the Browns (3-8) previously occupied, the circumstances aren’t what anyone involved with Cleveland’s acquisition of Jeudy hoped or wanted. But in what’s long felt like a lost season for the Browns, there’s a more thorough and accurate way to advertise Jeudy’s homecoming game.
The fifth-year wideout is playing like he did down the stretch of the 2022 season. And since the quarterback switch in late October, he’s been the player the Browns paid for.
Jeudy has posted at least 70 receiving yards in all four of Jameis Winston’s starts. He was the clear go-to guy for Winston on what became the game-winning drive during the Browns’ wild rally to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Over the last three games, almost 24 percent of Winston’s throws have targeted Jeudy.
The results say those are smart throws. Jeudy says much of the same.
“I feel like I’ve been getting open my whole career,” Jeudy said. “Just sometimes you don’t get that much of an opportunity. Now I’m here and getting open and getting opportunities. So now it’s time to take advantage of them.”
In Winston’s starts, Jeudy has totaled 24 receptions on 36 targets. He caught all six of his targets against the Steelers. In Week 11 at New Orleans, Jeudy went for 142 yards as part of a six-catch day that included an 89-yard touchdown pass from Winston.
The Browns traded for Jeudy believing he would add speed and improvisational ability to their offense. Though he posted just one catch in three straight games before Deshaun Watson’s season-ending injury forced the quarterback change, now the Browns are seeing their vision come to life.
“I think with Jerry, we know his skill set and he’s doing a nice job,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He’s catching short throws and turning them into long gains. He’s catching balls down the field, too. He’s also made a lot of plays in a scramble-drill setting and really shown his ability to shake open.”
In New Orleans, Jeudy posted his sixth career game of at least 100 receiving yards, and his first since 2022 when he had a big finish to the season en route to a career-best 972 receiving yards. After missing two games and most of a third around midseason due to an injury, Jeudy finished 2022 with the best stretch of his career as he posted 37 catches for 523 yards over the final six weeks, highlighted by a three-touchdown game in a Broncos upset of the Kansas City Chiefs and a 154-yard performance in a season finale win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
“Each week is different in our (planning), but Jerry’s skills make him a big part of what we always want to do,” Browns wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea said. “He can do a lot of things for us. He’s made the most of his opportunities here in the last couple weeks, and I just think so many times you look at so many different facets of the game plan, and we are fortunate at the receiver position to have some players that can go out there and really make some plays for us in different roles. I think Jerry’s made the most of those opportunities.”
After 2022, the Broncos picked up their fifth-year option for 2024 on Jeudy, whom they drafted No. 15 overall in 2020. But with the team in transition last offseason, the Broncos chose to trade Jeudy to the Browns rather than sign him to a long-term deal. Jeudy said over the summer that he’d asked the Broncos to trade him multiple times, and that after last season he did so again — with Cleveland as one of his preferred destinations.
The Browns and Broncos finalized terms on a Jeudy trade before the start of the league year. Less than a week after the trade was made official, Cleveland signed Jeudy to a three-year extension worth more than $40 million in guaranteed money. Jeudy publicly acknowledged criticism — much of it coming from Denver — via his social media after signing the deal, then he had a non-descript start to his first season in Cleveland.
But the Browns traded Amari Cooper to the Buffalo Bills in October, then they were forced into a quarterback change. With Winston unafraid to push the ball downfield, Jeudy has become a different player.
“At receiver, you’ve got to have a lot of patience,” Jeudy said. “Sometimes things just don’t go your way. You’ve got to be patient and eventually your time will come. Eventually is all on God’s timing, so when your time comes, just be ready.
“I always feel comfortable. I’m the type that really likes to know the game plan, likes to know everything about the offense. Now I’m getting the opportunity to showcase my skills and my talent. It’s a blessing.”
With 645 yards on the season, Jeudy is the Browns’ leading receiver and looks like he could post his first 1,000-yard season. His catches of 15 and 26 yards in the fourth quarter last Thursday — in the blizzard — played a huge role in the Browns rallying to win.
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Though it would take a miracle for Cleveland to play itself back into playoff contention, Jeudy can continue to chase personal statistical milestones while also trying to play a full season for the first time since his rookie year.
When he posted 856 receiving yards at an eye-popping 16.5 yards per catch as a rookie, it looked like he was headed for stardom. Now, he’s ascending again — even if there were multiple delays.
“This is for sure what I expected (for myself),” Jeudy said last week. “Just coming to a new team, fresh start, having more opportunities. I’m just trying to take advantage of them.”
(Top photo: Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)
