CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns shook up the bottom of their defensive end depth chart, claiming two players via waivers and waiving one.

They claimed James Houston of Detroit and Cameron Thomas of Kansas City.

To make room, they waived Elerson Smith.

Houston (6-1, 248), originally drafted by the Lions in the sixth round of the 2022 draft out of Jackson State, was waived by the Lions on Tuesday. He played in 17 games with three starts, totaling 15 tackles, nine sacks and a forced fumble. In 2024, he played in eight games, totaling four tackles and a sack.

“It just never quite worked out,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday. “And look, wish him the best of luck, and sometimes you just need a fresh start and this can be great for him, so wish him the best.”

After starting on the Texans’ practice squad as a rookie, Houston recorded eight sacks in seven games. But he has had one sack in 10 games since then. Houston became expendable when the Lions traded for Za’Darius Smith.

Thomas (6-4, 265), originally selected by Arizona in the third round of the 2022 draft out of San Diego State, is in his third NFL season. Thomas spent his first two seasons with the Cardinals, appearing in 32 games with three sacks. He was traded to the Chiefs before the start of the 2024 season and played in four games with Kansas City.

Broncos slowed down Myles Garrett last year

The Broncos spent extra time and resources on Myles Garrett last year and held him without a sack in the Broncos’ 29-12 win. He finished with two tackles, one for loss, and two passes defended. Garrett enters Monday night’s game in Denver as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after his three-sack game in the win over Pittsburgh.

“I think you always go into the Games knowing that they have a plan for Myles,” Stefanski said. “It could be sliding away from him, it could be running away from him, it could be making sure there is always a tight end next to him to chip in, it could also be plays where the ball gets out of the quarterback’s hands extra quickly. . So those are the kinds of things you expect them to do.

Cedric Tillman is still in the concussion protocol

The Browns only conducted a walk-through on Wednesday, but Tillman was still in the concussion protocol.

The Browns will hold a full practice Thursday morning.

“He’s getting better,” Stefanski said.

Still working on the left tackle plans

Stefanski was unclear Wednesday about whether Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) will be available to play at left tackle.

“I’m still working on it,” he said.

The Browns could certainly use him. The Broncos lead the NFL with 44 sacks, 12 more than the ninth-place Browns. If he is not ready, Germain Ifedi will make his second consecutive run there in place of Dawand Jones (fibula).

“Really, really impressive defense,” Stefanski said. “I think Vance Joseph is doing a great job with them. Look there, they have good players at every level. Obviously (Pat) Surtain II is a very, very good corner. We played him last year and know how talented he is, but they have some guys at the back who can produce, who can tackle and who can play the ball.

‘They are healthy, they can put pressure on you, they can report. I think they have fourteen players with at least half a sack. They lead the league in sacks. So, as you said, rush and reporting go together and they do a very, very good job.