DECEMBER 9, 2022 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM
JAELON DARDEN #16 - WIDE RECEIVER - CLEVELAND BROWNS
6 YDS •
1 REC •
0 TD
6 YDS
1 REC
0 TD
Player Spotlight: Cleveland Browns Newly Added WR Jaelon Darden A look into the Cleveland Browns newly added wideout Jaelon Darden.
Jaelon Darden Sends Cryptic Message on His Way Out of Tampa It didn’t take Jaelon Darden long to find a new home in the NFL.
DECEMBER 9, 2022 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
OBR Film Room: Carving Out A Role For Jaelon Darden With The Browns OBR Film Room looks at the potential role of new Browns receiver Jaelon Darden in Cleveland's offense and special teams.
DECEMBER 8, 2022 • 247SPORTS.COM
Claimed off waivers by Cleveland Cleveland claimed Darden off waivers from Tampa Bay on Wednesday.
Impact Darden was waived by Tampa Bay following Monday's win over the Saints, but he quickly finds a new home in Cleveland. The second-year wideout appeared in the Buccaneers' first 12 games this year and caught both of his targets for 26 yards across just 53 offensive snaps, though he did make some solid contributions as return man.
DECEMBER 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Loses roster spot Darden was waived by the Buccaneers on Tuesday, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.
Impact Darden has played in all 12 games for the Bucs this season, mainly handling return duties while seeing limited snaps on offense. It's currently unclear if he'll be brought back to the team's practice squad if he is able to clear waivers. Rachaad White and Scotty Miller will be candidates to replace Darden as return men.
DECEMBER 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Bucs Waive Jaelon Darden The Buccaneers opened a spot on their 53-man roster on Tuesday by waiving second-year wide receiver Jaelon Darden…In addition, T Dylan Cook...
DECEMBER 6, 2022 • BUCCANEERS.COM
Pair of punt returns in loss Darden did not log any snaps on offense but returned two punts for 24 yards during the Buccaneers' 23-17 overtime loss to the Browns in Week 12.
Impact Darden rattled off another long return in a season full of them, recording a 17-yard runback. The speedster continues to be a complete non-factor on offense, but he's now averaging 10.7 yards per return and leads the NFL with 310 punt-return yards overall.
DECEMBER 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Gets a shot as kickoff returner Darden returned two kickoffs for 42 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-16 win over the Seahawks in Week 10.
Impact The Buccaneers didn't have any punt-return opportunities, but Darden still got his hands on the ball via the first two kickoff returns of the season. Darden failed to log a single snap on offense for the third straight game, however, so despite his speed, he doesn't have any fantasy viability at the moment outside of leagues that count return yards.
NOVEMBER 16, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Busy day as returner Darden did not log any snaps on offense but returned eight punts for 82 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-13 win over the Rams on Sunday.
Impact It was an extremely busy day on special teams for Darden, who recorded a career high in return yardage on an afternoon when the Rams were about as inept at sustaining drives as the Buccaneers. Darden continues to be among the league's most efficient return men, now averaging 10.6 yards on his 27 punt runbacks overall.
NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Continues shining on returns Darden returned two punts for 33 yards in the Buccaneers' 27-22 loss to the Ravens on Thursday night.
Impact Darden once again was a non-factor on offense but continued to shine in his punt returner role. The second-year speedster ripped off runbacks of 18 and 15 yards, pushing his average in that category to a stellar 10.7 yards per return.
OCTOBER 29, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
One catch in addition to returns Darden brought in his only target for one yard and returned four punts for 46 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-3 loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Impact Darden recorded only his second catch of the season while logging four snaps on offense, and he turned in his usual stellar work on punt returns. The speedster's primary contributions should continue to come through special teams unless multiple injuries strike the Buccaneers' receiving corps.
OCTOBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Logs three punt returns in Week 6 Darden returned three punts for 14 yards during the Buccaneers' 20-18 loss to the Steelers in Week 6.
Impact The second-year wideout failed to see a snap on offense for the first time all season, but he continued to deliver solid production on his punt-return opportunities. Darden's average of 9.6 yards on punt runbacks ties him for 10th overall in the league and qualifies as the fourth highest of players that have logged double-digit returns, while his 125 yards are good for sixth most.
OCTOBER 20, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Back in full Thursday Darden (tooth) practiced fully Thursday.
Impact Darden missed Wednesday's practice due to a tooth issue, but his return as a full participant in Thursday's session suggests he'll likely be available for Sunday's game against the Steelers. The second-year receiver has just one catch for 25 yards through the Buccaneers first five contests, and he'll likely see very limited snaps on offense once again this weekend in Pittsburgh.
OCTOBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Sits out Wednesday Darden did not participate during the Buccaneers' practice Wednesday due to a tooth issue.
Impact It's unclear how or when Darden sustained this injury after playing just 15 total snaps during Tampa Bay's Week 5 win over Atlanta. Either way, this issue now leaves his availability for Sunday's game against the Steelers up in the air. Darden has caught just one pass over the first five weeks of the season, though his potential absence should vault Scotty Miller into a role as Tampa Bay's primary punt returner.
OCTOBER 13, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Limited to pair of punt returns Darden didn't log a target over his 11 snaps from scrimmage and returned two punts for 40 yards in the Buccaneers' 21-15 win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Impact Darden's second-highest snap count from scrimmage of the season didn't net him any production, but he was impressive yet again in his primary role as punt returner. Darden has now netted 111 yards on nine punt runbacks, and his elite speed and elusiveness should eventually help him garner some targets on offense.
OCTOBER 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
No stats in Week 4 loss Darden logged six snaps on offense and one on special teams during the Buccaneers' 41-31 loss to the Chiefs in Week 4, but he did not draw a snap or return a punt.
Impact It was an extremely quiet night for Darden despite the fact Julio Jones exited the game after one second-half snap due to a knee issue and Breshad Perriman (knee/hamstring) was inactive. Darden's one usually dependable path to touches, punt returns, also failed to materialize, as the prolific Chiefs offense punted only once, which resulted in a fair catch by Darden. The 2021 fourth-round pick has just one reception this season, but the combination of Cole Beasley's retirement and the lingering injuries to both Jones and Perriman could serve to open up opportunity on offense in coming games.
OCTOBER 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Flashes with one catch Darden secured his only target for 25 yards and returned three punts for 26 yards in the Buccaneers' 14-12 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Impact Darden logged a season-high 18 snaps from scrimmage with the Buccaneers down three receivers, and he flashed his speed on his one reception by getting upfield down the right sideline for a 25-yard gain. He also continued to put in his usual strong work on special teams, now averaging an impressive 8.9 yards per punt return on his eight runbacks. Despite the splash play on offense, Darden could be back to minimal involvement from scrimmage in Week 4 if at least Mike Evans (suspension) and Julio Jones (knee) return as expected.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Limited to punt returns Sunday Darden logged eight snaps from scrimmage without drawing a target in Sunday's 20-10 win over the Saints, but he did return two punts for 17 yards.
Impact Darden couldn't make a mark on offense despite the Buccaneers being without Chris Godwin (hamstring) and Julio Jones (knee), but he did flash on punt returns for the second straight game. All of Darden's yardage in that capacity came on one of his two special-teams touches, and he's now averaging 9.0 yards per return on five runbacks through the first pair of contests. With Mike Evans having been handed a one-game suspension for his role in a multi-player brawl Sunday and both Godwin and Jones uncertain to be available Week 3, there may be an opportunity for Darden to see his first targets of the season in Sunday's home opener against the Packers.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Stephon Gilmore lowers boom to stop Jaelon Darden Indianapolis Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore stops Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jaelon Darden in his tracks.
AUGUST 28, 2022 • NFL.COM
Brady Throws Deep to Jaelon Darden | Play of the Day Watch as Tom Brady throws a deep pass to Jaelon Darden.
AUGUST 23, 2022 • BUCCANEERS.COM
Possible step back Saturday Darden failed to bring in any of his three targets, returned one kickoff for 25 yards and ran back one punt for no gain in the Buccaneers' 13-3 preseason loss to the Titans on Satu...
Impact The fact Darden came up empty on offense while a couple of other candidates for a depth receiver and/or returner role -- Deven Thompkins and Jerreth Sterns -- tallied a pair of receptions apiece could prove detrimental. Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times notes Darden made a questionable decision fielding a punt at the nine-yard line and then didn't accomplish anything of note on his kickoff return opportunity, putting some extra pressure on him to stand out in all phases during Saturday night's road preseason finale against the Colts.
AUGUST 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jaelon Darden on Learning From Julio Jones | Press Conference Wide Receiver Jaelon Darden spoke to the media on Monday following training camp practice.
AUGUST 15, 2022 • BUCCANEERS.COM
Makes impact on one catch Darden brought in his only target for a 23-yard touchdown in the Buccaneers' 26-24 preseason loss to the Dolphins on Saturday night.
Impact Darden wasn't as productive in terms of catches as several other wideouts vying for a roster spot on the latter half of the depth chart, yet the second-year speedster did make his mark with his impressive first-quarter scoring connection with Blaine Gabbert. Darden didn't see any opportunities as a returner, but he could be involved in that aspect of things as well in next Saturday night's road exhibition battle against the Titans.
AUGUST 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Blaine Gabbert fires 23-yard TD pass to Jaelon Darden Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Jaelon Darden catches a 23-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Blaine Gabbert against the Miami Dolphins...
AUGUST 14, 2022 • NFL.COM
Blaine Gabbert Slings it to Jaelon Darden for the TD | Dolphins vs. Bucs Highlights WR Jaelon Darden catches a touchdown pass from QB Blaine Gabbert against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1 of the Preseason.
AUGUST 14, 2022 • BUCCANEERS.COM
