Kelly was cut from the Ravens' practice squad Tuesday.
Kelly was elevated from Baltimore's practice squad to their active roster twice this season, handling kick return duties for the team. However, Deonte Harty has taken over that role since, leaving Kelly without much of a role. The Tennessee product will now have to search out a new opportunity.
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John Kelly: Goes back to practice squad
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Kelly reverted to Baltimore's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.
Kelly played five snaps during Sunday's 26-23 loss versus the Raiders, all on special teams. The Ravens will be able to elevate him from the practice squad just once more this season before he'd have to be added to the 53-man roster in order to suit up.
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Ravens' John Kelly: Elevated for Week 2
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The Ravens elevated Kelly from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Kelly played six special teams snaps in Week 1 against the Chiefs. The 2018 sixth-round pick is expected to reprise his role as the No. 3 running back behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill for Sunday's game against Las Vegas.
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Ravens' John Kelly: Promoted for Thursday night
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The Ravens activated Kelly from the practice squad for Thursday night's Week 1 season opener against the Chiefs.
With Rasheen Ali (neck) out versus Kansas City, the veteran Kelly gets the call as the Ravens' RB3 behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill. Kelly rushed 13 times for 52 yards during the preseason. He's unlikely to play more than a handful of snaps Thursday night.
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John Kelly: Released by Baltimore
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Kelly was released by the Ravens on Tuesday, Clifton Brown of the team's official site reports.
The running back signed with the Ravens during training camp after spending most of 2023 on the Browns' practice squad. The 2018 sixth-round pick has not carried the ball in a regular-season game since 2021.
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John Kelly: Jettisoned by Cleveland
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The Browns released Kelly on Monday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Kelly spent most of the 2023 season on the Browns' practice squad and did not play in the regular season. His last NFL action was in 2022, when he played 14 snaps on special teams in Week 17 against the Commanders. The 2018 sixth-round pick will look to join a team in need of a running back with special-teams experience.
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John Kelly: Let go by Cleveland
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The Browns cut Kelly from their practice squad Tuesday.
Kelly has spent most of the past three seasons with Cleveland, but he didn't appear in a game this year after making five appearances over the previous two campaigns. Kelly has 96 career rushing yards on 32 carries.
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John Kelly: Cut by Cleveland
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The Browns cut Kelly on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Cleveland opted to keep Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong as backups to Nick Chubb, cutting Kelly and Demetric Felton on Tuesday. If Kelly clears waivers, the Browns would presumably like to bring him back on a practice-squad deal.
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Browns' John Kelly: Commits critical fumble Thursday
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Kelly rushed eight times for 20 yards and brought in one of two targets for three yards in the Browns' 18-18 preseason tie with the Eagles on Thursday night. He also lost a fumble.
Kelly was stymied on the ground as his final line indicates, and his fumble at the Eagles' three-yard line that short-circuited the Browns' opening drive was naturally a critical mistake. The 2018 sixth-round pick of the Rams has now had poor outings in back-to-back preseason contests, and Demetric Felton appears to be clearly ahead of him in the battle for the No. 3 running back role heading into Cleveland's preseason finale against the Chiefs on Saturday, Aug. 26.
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Browns' John Kelly: Rough night against Washington
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Kelly carried the ball six times for six yards and caught his only target for three yards in Friday's preseason loss to the Commanders.
After a good showing in the Hall of Fame Game last week, Kelly crashed back down to Earth in this one. Not only was he thoroughly outproduced on the ground by Demetric Felton, Kelly flopped in his biggest moment -- he got a fourth-down carry from the one-yard line on Cleveland's first drive, but rather than punching the ball into the end zone, he got tackled for a four-yard loss by Montez Sweat. If Cleveland goes with only three backs on its Week 1 roster, Kelly is by no means assured of a spot.
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Browns' John Kelly: Up on active roster
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Kelly was elevated from the Browns' practice squad Saturday.
Kelly could be the sixth running back active for the Browns on Sunday, so it's likely he would simply be used on special teams. The 2018 draftee has yet to play a game with Cleveland this season.
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John Kelly: Added to Browns' practice squad
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Kelly was signed to the Browns' practice squad Wednesday.
Kelly could be first in line to be elevated if injuries affect Cleveland's backfield, as he logged four appearances with the Browns last season and saw extensive work in the preseason. He was waived by the Browns on Tuesday but went unclaimed, paving the way for Cleveland to add Kelly to the practice squad.
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Browns' John Kelly: Leading rusher Sunday
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Kelly had 14 carries for 66 yards, including a six-yard touchdown run, in Sunday's preseason game against the Eagles.
Kelly has received a lot of work through the first two preseason games, as the Browns opted to hold out Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Most of the ground game has been handled by Kelly and rookie fifth-rounder Jerome Ford, with Kelly toting the ball a team-high 24 times. Kelly's 86 yards are second to Ford's 88. There are too many backs in the room right now, so Kelly is not expected to be on the final roster. Ideally, the Browns will be able to stash the 25-year-old back on the practice squad for emergency use.
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John Kelly: Signs futures deal
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The Browns signed Kelly to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Kelly made four appearances for the Browns this season and played almost exclusively on special teams. However, he did see three offensive snaps in Week 7 and totaled two rushes for 13 yards during the game. With Kareem Hunt, Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton all under contract for 2022, it's likely Kelly will garner a similar workload for Cleveland next year.
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Browns' John Kelly: Game-day elevation for Week 15
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Kelly was elevated from Cleveland's practice squad as a COVID-19 replacement ahead of Monday's game against the Raiders.
Kelly will provide backfield depth for the Browns, but he's unlikely to get into the game on offense unless Nick Chubb and D'Ernest Johnson both get hurt. Even then, the Browns could opt to use return man Demetric Felton at running back over Kelly.
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John Kelly: Waived by Browns
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The Browns have waived Kelly, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Kelly was just activated off Cleveland's reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday. With Nick Chubb, D'Ernest Johnson and Demetric Felton all healthy, Kelly was the odd-man out in the backfield.
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Browns' John Kelly: Clears COVID-19 protocols
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Kelly (illness) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Kelly has cleared the league's COVID-19 protocols, but fellow running backs Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton both remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. With Kareem Hunt (calf) expected to remain on IR, Kelly would slide into the backup role behind D'Ernest Johnson for Sunday's highly favorable matchup against the Lions if neither Chubb nor Felton are activated by then.
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Browns' John Kelly: Sitting out Sunday
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Kelly (illness) won't be available Sunday at New England, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Coach Kevin Stefanski noted all of Nick Chubb (illness), Demetric Felton (illness) and Kelly will be unavailable Week 10 due to COVID-19 protocols. With Kareem Hunt (calf) still on IR, the Browns backfield will be headed by D'Ernest Johnson, with practice-squad members Brian Hill and Dexter Williams likely to be elevated for Sunday's contest.
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Browns' John Kelly: Tests positive for COVID-19
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Kelly did test positive for COVID before being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Kelly joins Nick Chubb and Demetric Felton as Browns running backs who have tested positive for COVID, leaving D'Ernest Johnson as the only healthy running back on the current roster. Kelly's absence wouldn't normally be much of an issue, as he's only played three offensive snaps all season, but with the void the Browns now have in the backfield every body counts.
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Browns' John Kelly: Lands on COVID-19 list
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Kelly was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday.
Kelly has appeared in three games for the Browns this season, but he has only recorded two touches for 13 yards. His absence shouldn't affect Cleveland's backfield rotation.
