Eric

Hagg

The Browns are dealing with injuries to T.J. Ward and Usama Young. Hagg was kept on the roster for the first nine weeks of the season, half of August, and all of September, which suggests the team is high on his potential. He was a versatile playmaker at Nebraska, playing all over the Cornhuskers’ secondary and leading the team with five interceptions as a senior.

The Browns were already short-handed at safety with T.J. Ward (foot) out. As long as the eye injury isn’t serious, Hagg should be available in Week 15 after 10 days of rest.

Usama Young is running with the second team after starting eight games in 2011. A seventh-round pick last season, Hagg appeared in only 10 games, notching 11 tackles.

With no immediate plans to move Sheldon Brown to safety, Hagg and Usama Young each have a chance to start. Young is running with the second team defense after starting eight games last season. The Browns also signed UDFAs Tashaun Gipson and Johnson Bademosi as secondary depth.

Hagg missed most of his rookie year due to knee surgery, but showed enough late-season promise to warrant a long look for a starting gig. Veteran Usama Young will continue to push him for the job.

“We would like to get a little more production from that position,” DC Dick Jauron said. The Bengals exploited Hagg in coverage last week. Usama Young could begin eating into his snaps if his play doesn’t improve.

Hagg was victimized on Bengals WR Brandon Tate’s 44-yard touchdown pass in Week 2 and also missed a tackle. The depth chart change still says more about Hagg’s struggles than Young as an expected upgrade. Young nearly lost his roster spot in training camp to undrafted free agent rookie Tashaun Gipson.

Hagg went from starter to inactive in a week. Usama Young took his place and was backed up by undrafted rookie Tashaun Gipson.

Hagg opened 2012 as the Browns’ starting free safety, but ended up playing just 365 snaps on defense. He was expected to focus on special teams this season. A three-year veteran, Hagg played nickel back in college. Signed for just $555,000, there’s a chance he’ll get claimed on waivers. Hagg was the No. 248 pick of the 2011 draft.

Hagg opened the 2012 season as Cleveland’s starting free safety, but was a healthy scratch by Week 3. He also didn’t do much on special teams. The Browns badly need a free safety to play across from SS T.J. Ward. Free agent Kerry Rhodes would make a ton of sense due to his history with new DC Ray Horton.