Injuries are never ideal, but they are unavoidable in sports.
They’ve pushed the Browns to rely on backups, practice squad players, and players who weren’t on the roster at the start of the season to contribute to wins.
Among others who have taken advantage of the opportunity is rookie safety Ronnie Hickman Jr., a former undrafted free agent who has worked his way up to becoming a postseason contributor.
Hickman has risen from undrafted rookie to possible starter for a playoff club this season, and he’s ready for the next step.
“This has been a long season.” I’m just taking everything in. “We’re just trying to enjoy this first year, and we’ve been fortunate enough to make the playoffs,” Hickman explained.
Hickman was left without a team after the Rams picked Desjuan Johnson with the final choice in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Browns called the undrafted free agent shortly later and offered him a shot to make the team without guaranteeing him a roster position.
He seized the opportunity and ran with it.
“There are a lot of guys who would kill to be in my position right now,” Hickman remarked in May. “It’s just an opportunity to fulfill a dream I’ve had since I was 5.”
The former Buckeye worked his way onto the first 53-man roster after learning four different defensive playbooks during his time in Columbus.
Fast forward to now, and “Rocket,” his boyhood nickname given to him by his father Ronnie Sr., has established himself as a reliable defensive player for the Browns ahead of Saturday’s wild playoff game in Houston.
It took some time. Hickman played no snaps between Weeks 2-8 and only 40 snaps through the first 13 games of the season. However, by always prepared for his number to be called, a comment from a seasoned teammate has stuck with him throughout the season.
“One of the things Rodney (McLeod) wrote on the board in our room was, ‘Do Simple Better.’ “That was one quote from OTA’s that really stuck with me,” Hickman added.
In the second part of the season, members of the Browns’ secondary were injured.
Safety Juan Thornhill missed four games between Weeks 11 and 16 due to a calf issue. McLeod, another veteran safety, tore his biceps in Week 11 and missed the rest of the season. And Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward missed Weeks 12-14 while recovering from a shoulder ailment.
As a result, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz scouted the secondary backups and called on Hickman to fill the void.
Hickman made progress slowly but steadily.
“Whenever it was my chance or my time to come to step on a field, I knew I just had to make the most of it,” said Hickman. “So just going out there and being able to make plays and, you know, communicating is something you have to do as a safety.” That has been taught to me at every level. So it’s just something that’s necessary.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Hickman has four tackles in 13 snaps against Pittsburgh in Week 10. He eventually made his first career start against Jacksonville in Week 14, with two tackles and one pass defensed on 76 snaps. Hickman finished that game ranked ninth on the team in overall defensive grading (72.7) and first in tackle grading (78.2).
Between the Week 15 win over Chicago and the Week 16 win over Houston, Hickman collected 11 tackles and two passes defended, but his season highlight was just around the horizon.
The Browns played the Jets for a Week 17 Thursday night game a few days after their win in Houston, with a chance to punch their playoff ticket.
The Browns offense failed to capitalize on a chance late in the first quarter after Mike Ford recovered a mishandled Jets kickoff return. But Hickman made up for it on the third play of the next series for the Jets.
He pounced on the pass after reading quarterback Trevor Siemian’s gaze toward wide receiver Garrett Wilson. Hickman made the interception, went outside right between blockers, and returned it for his first career interception and touchdown on the same play.
Moments like these lead to Schwartz praising Hickman for his performance when his colleagues were injured.
“Usually when you’re rookies, they can do their job, but they need somebody to tell them what to do or somebody else to make the calls,” said Schwartz. “When Juan (Thornhill) was down, when Grant (Delpit) was down, Ronnie really became the glue of our secondary and communicated as good, if not better, than any rookie safety I’ve been around and I think – he’s made plays.”
While the Browns prepare for Houston, they are dealing with additional ailments. Safety Grant Delpit has been ruled out, Thornhill is questionable, and Ward suffered a knee injury during Thursday’s practice and is questionable.
Injuries have been a major trend this season for Cleveland, and as Kevin Stefanski has frequently stated, “next man up.” Hickman, fifth-round cornerback Cameron Mitchell, and safety D’Anthony Bell are among the next men up.
Hickman could see increased playing time at NRG Stadium on Saturday.
And, while he cares about winning, he also cares about representing his home state of New Jersey, a place he “doesn’t feel receives it’s deserved props as a hotbed for gridiron talent.”
“When I step on the field, I try to represent Jersey to the best of my ability.” “I just remember all the guys from my state seeing them on Sundays,” Hickman explained. “Knowing that there are kids out there who have been in my shoes and said, ‘I know that’s the kid from where I’m from.'” It’s a big honor, and I’m glad to be from Jersey.”
