Brian

Schaefering

It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but it is for Schaefering as he competes for a roster spot along a Cleveland line that made four big offseason additions while getting back Marcus Benard from injury. Schaefering is on the bubble.

Ojinnaka started five games at left guard for the Rams last season, but he was completely overmatched and released. Schaefering has appeared in 40 career games between the Browns and Cowboys over the last four seasons.

He’ll take the roster spot of DT Josh Brent, who was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list Wednesday. A fourth-year pro, Schaefering appeared in all 16 games for the Browns last season, and is just two years removed from making nine starts. His snaps should be limited for Big D, however.

Schaefering played just 45 snaps after arriving in December, but has 40 games of NFL experience. He’d be cheap, experienced line depth for a team that’s up against the salary cap.

Schaefering was signed by the Cowboys in December, and he made three tackles in three games with the team. He turns 30 in August.

Shaefering, a 2008 undrafted free agent out of Illinois, was being looked at as a defensive end in the Jets’ hybrid 3-4 system. He lacks the explosiveness and size to be a serious contributor at this level, however.

Cleveland coach Eric Mangini knows Schaefering from last year, but he’s probably not going to last through the first round of cuts next Tuesday.

Schaefering, a former undrafted free agent out of Illinois, is Eric Mangini’s old pal from the Jets. He won’t make an impact in the last five games.

Reserve DLs Ahtyba Rubin and Brian Schaefering will share snaps while Smith’s back heals. Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall ranks as Rotoworld’s No. 8 RB for Week 6. Strangely, the 23rd-ranked Browns run defense, allowing 120.0 YPG, is the only unit in the NFL that has yet to surrender a rushing TD thus far in 2010.

Assuming he does go on injured reserve, the Browns will miss Smith, who is a much better player than his backup, Brian Schaefering. He could be placed on IR as early as Wednesday.