The Browns may have spent Friday celebrating Nick Chubb’s official retirement, but the more pressing football question came with one of Cleveland’s key defenders missing from uniform.
Grant Delpit was absent as the Browns wrapped up preparation for Sunday’s home opener against the Carolina Panthers, and the safety now carries a questionable designation because of a shoulder injury. He had been limited throughout the week, and while it wasn’t clear whether Friday’s absence marked a setback or just caution, the possibility remains that Cleveland could be without one of its top defensive pieces.
"We'll see," head coach Todd Monken said of Delpit and cornerback Tyson Campbell, who will also carry an injury designation into the weekend. "Hopeful they'll be able to go."
If Delpit can’t play, or even if he’s limited, the next man up is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren.
The second-round rookie has been waiting for a real defensive opening. Cleveland traded up for McNeil-Warren on Day 2 of the 2026 draft, and at the time, plenty of fans imagined a defense built around three-safety looks and big nickel packages.
That vision hasn’t taken hold. The Browns have stuck with Delpit and Ronnie Hickman as their primary safeties, while also showing plenty of trust in Myles Harden at nickel.
So far, there’s been no sign McNeil-Warren is being asked to handle a regular slot job against tight ends and receivers.
His defensive workload has been modest through two games. He played 14 snaps in the opener at Jacksonville, then added 10 more in Week 2 against Tampa Bay.
Most of his value has come on special teams, where he’s already become a core contributor. Against the Buccaneers, he had three special teams tackles, and coordinator Byron Storer sounded like someone who knows his rookie may soon be needed in a bigger way.
“I’m really happy we get a chance to work with him,” Storer told reporters Thursday. “I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to work with him, because I’m sure he’ll have more of a role as we get going here on defense, but he can really do anything.
He’s got incredible athleticism and length, size, speed, so there’s not a lot he can’t do on special teams for me. And so, he has great versatility for us on special teams.
I think he’s only going to get better and better and better at anything he does.”
If Cleveland does need McNeil-Warren to step in, the usage should be fairly straightforward. In his limited defensive snaps, he has mostly lined up as a free safety, with 17 of his 24 snaps deep according to Pro Football Focus. That setup could shift if he’s paired with Hickman, since Hickman is at his best in center-field looks.
The broader plan for McNeil-Warren has always pointed more toward a box safety role, with some nickel usage against the right matchup. His final season at Toledo reflected that, as he lined up in the box or slot on 434 snaps compared with 198 as a true free safety, per PFF.
Delpit’s shoulder issue does not sound severe, and he was at least on the field this week, even if he didn’t do much. He could still be available without restrictions against Carolina.
Either way, McNeil-Warren is the next option, and Week 3 could be the moment where Cleveland gets its first real look at what the rookie can do on defense.
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Cleveland still gets the advantage of playing at home, but this is the kind of game that can tell you a bit more about both teams than the record might suggest. Carolinas season-long question is still consistency on defense, and that remains the area the Browns will be watching closely. If the Panthers can keep building on what worked against Atlanta, the opener could end up feeling more like a test than a tune-up. [Read more 🡒]
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Andre Szmyt Is Giving Browns Fans A Rare Reason To Brag
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For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for stability in the kicking game, Szmyts start has stood out as more than a hot streak. Browns special teams coordinator Byron Storer has praised his hard work and dedication, the kind of behind-the-scenes detail that usually only gets noticed when the results show up on Sundays. Right now, the results have been hard to miss, and the bigger question is how long this run can keep going. [Read more 🡒]