CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Receiver Kenny Britt was already in the Browns' doghouse last week before being sent home from Houston along with Corey Coleman for missing curfew. Now he's in jeopardy of being cut if he doesn't shape up, a source close to the receiver told cleveland.com.
Coach Hue Jackson sent the two wideouts home before Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Titans Sunday morning and fined them for conduct detrimental to the team for missing curfew Saturday night. They apologized, but it wasn't enough.
The fact they were sent packing was first reported by Mike Garafolo of nfl.com.
ESPN's Adam Schefter, however, reported that a source told him that previously, players who were to be inactive for the game didn't have to adhere to a curfew. Furthermore, he reported that the two arrived home at the same time as the other players on the team after the game.
A source told cleveland.com, however, they were sent home separately from the team.
The Browns have declined to comment on the incident.
Britt, in the midst of a horrible season, will have a chance to redeem himself Sunday against the Titans, but could be cut by the team with another misstep.
That would be a black mark for the 0-6 Browns, who signed Britt to a four-year deal in the offseason worth $32.5 million, including $17 million guaranteed. But $6.5 million of that guaranteed money doesn't kick in until the third day of the 2018 league year, meaning if they cut him this year or anytime up to that point in March, they're only out the $10.5 million guaranteed.
Jackson said this week that Britt, listed as questionable for the Texans and again this week for the Titans, was inactive in Houston because of his knee and groin injuries. It's not yet known if he would've played had it not been for the missed curfew.
Coleman is still on injured reserve with a broken hand, so it flew under the radar in Houston that the two were absent. Coleman will be eligible to return Nov. 19 against Jacksonville.
Britt hinted on Wednesday that an incident had taken place. When asked about DeShone Kizer returning to the lineup after his one-week benching, Britt indicated that it might have the same effect on the rookie that his week off did him.
"Yeah, that could be a motivational thing for him to go out there and prove himself,'' said Britt. "I was a starter. Things happen, and I'll come back. I'm still in the position I was before.''
The thing is, Britt isn't. He's skating on very thin ice and has no margin for error. Jackson had already called him into his office once earlier this season to be the elder statesman needed on the receiving corps.
On Thursday, Jackson said Britt still has a chance to salvage his season -- beginning Sunday against the Titans, the team that drafted him in the first round of the 2009 draft out of Rutgers.
"Obviously, there are 10 games left so yes, he can,'' said Jackson. "It starts this week. He needs to go out and make plays for the football team, create separation for the quarterback so the quarterback feels comfortable letting the ball go and be a steadying influence among that group as we go forward, and I think he can do that.
"He has to go do it - he knows it - on a consistent basis. It's a one week opportunity. Here is his resume this weekend. We'll go from there and keep moving forward."
Britt is confident he can redeem himself.
"There are 10 games left,'' he said Wednesday. "That's plenty of time. We're coming together more off the field and in the meeting rooms and we're going to do whatever it takes to do it on the field in practice."
Currently, he's the 108th-best receiver in the NFL according to profootballfocus.com, on pace for only 28 catches for 423 yards and four TDs.
Britt was already in poor standing for sub-par performance this season. He had a drop in the red zone in the opener, and a pass that glanced off his hands was picked off in Indy. Overall, he has eight catches for 121 yards and a TD this season.
Britt, who's played with dozens of QB over his nine seasons, admitted that he hadn't yet adjusted to the bullets that Kizer throws. But he acknowledged that it's on the receivers to make the catch.
"We've got to go on the JUGs and turn it up to 100 and just catch that and then it will slow down for us,'' said Britt. "As long as he keeps on working and we keep on working with him, like I said, no one can really stop us.''
The only one that can stop Britt now is himself.
The clock is ticking.