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Cleveland Browns: Ed Reynolds injury opens door for Kai Nacua

By Kristopher Knox

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: A Cleveland Browns helmet rests on the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Browns 29-10. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: A Cleveland Browns helmet rests on the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Browns 29-10. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Cleveland Browns safety Ed Reynolds is expected to miss extended time, which gives UDFA Kai Nacua a big opportunity to showcase his talents

Former BYU safety Kai Nacua came to the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent this offseason. While he didn’t walk into an open roster spot, the free safety position is far from settled, meaning Nacua had a good chance to compete for one. Now Nacua has an even better opportunity to perform for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and potentially win a job.

Safety Ed Reynolds — who started seven games and produced 43 tackles for the Browns last season — is expected to miss six weeks with an MCL sprain, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Per Schefter, Reynolds didn’t suffer notable ACL damage.

With Reynolds out, Williams and the Browns will be able to get a closer look at Nacua and exactly what he can offer the Cleveland defense. At first blush, it appears Nacua can offer quite a bit.

We’re talking about a 205-pound safety with 4.49 speed and a nose for the football. Nacua racked up an impressive 12 interceptions over his past two seasons at Brigham Young.

Nacua has already started showing his nose for the football in Browns camp, as well. He made a diving interception during Cleveland’s first padded practice of the year, as noted by Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Browns media broadcaster Nathan Zegura even listed Nacua as one of his under-the-radar stars of camp so far:

It’s never good when a player gets injured, and the Browns would obviously like to have Reynolds healthy. If we’re looking for a silver lining, however, it’s this.

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The Browns have a good idea of what Reynolds can do on the field. They’re now getting an opportunity to see what Nacua can do, and they’re getting the rookie more experience. He could very well be the future of the free safety position and, with Reynolds out for the beginning of the regular season, that future could start sooner than later.

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