The Jaguars signed Thornhill to their practice squad Monday.
The 30-year-old safety was dropped by the Steelers on Nov. 10 but has quickly found a new home in Jacksonville. Thornhill appeared in nine games for the Steelers this season, recording 38 total tackles and one pass defended across 313 defensive snaps. He could be elevated to the Jaguars' active roster and play a depth role in the team's secondary as the season progresses.
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Juan Thornhill: Cut by Pittsburgh
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Thornhill was waived by the Steelers on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Thornhill has played in all nine contests with Pittsburgh this season, recording 38 total tackles (23 solo) and a pass defensed. The 30-year-old played sparingly in the last two contests though, as Jalen Ramsey has taken over as the team's starting free safety. Thornhill will now be subject to waivers, and if he goes unclaimed, he'll enter free agency.
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Steelers' Juan Thornhill: Three tackles against Minnesota
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Thornhill recorded three tackles (two solo) in the Steelers' win over the Vikings on Sunday.
DeShon Elliott and Chuck Clark started at safety for the Steelers against Minnesota, but Thornhill out-snapped Clark 50 to 31 behind Elliott's 100 percent playing-time clip. Through four games, Thornhill has recorded 25 tackles (14 solo), one pass breakup and one fumble recovery.
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Steelers' Juan Thornhill: Records eight tackles in victory
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Thornhill recorded eight tackles (four solo) and one fumble recovery in the Steelers' win over the Jets on Sunday.
While Thornhill didn't start the game, he did play 84 percent of the defensive snaps. With DeShon Elliott suffering a knee injury that already has him ruled out for Week 2 against Seattle, both Thornhill and Chuck Clark should see elevated playing time on the back end of Pittsburgh's defense.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: In line to be released
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Thornhill said Monday that the Browns have informed him he will be released at the start of the new league year in March, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Thornhill will be designated a post-June 1 cut, a move that will save Cleveland $3.2 million against the cap for 2025. The veteran safety has one year remaining on the three-year, $21 million contract he inked with the team back in 2023. Thornhill struggled with injuries during his Browns tenure, playing just 11 regular-season games in each of his two campaigns with the team. Down the stretch in 2024, Thornhill found himself splitting defensive reps relatively evenly with Ronnie Hickman.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Suits up for 11 games in 2024
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Thornhill racked up 49 tackles (31 solo) and three passes defensed across 11 regular-season appearances with the Browns in 2024.
Thornhill has been limited to 11 regular-season games in both of his first two seasons with the Browns after having logged 16 or more appearances in all four of his years with the Chiefs from 2019-22. He remains under contract with Cleveland for one more year, but at this point even if healthy, it's not a guarantee that the experienced safety will regain the playmaking ability that previously allowed him to rank as a fringe fantasy asset in IDP formats.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Questionable for Week 14
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Thornhill (calf) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Thornhill was able to practice in a limited capacity Thursday, and he has given himself a chance to return from a one-game absence due to a calf injury. Rodney McLeod and Ronnie Hickman both saw increased snap counts on defense in Week 13 against the Broncos, and the duo would continue to see additional work Sunday if Thornhill were to be sidelined.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Sits out practice again Friday
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Thornhill (calf) was a non-participant in practice Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Thornhill has opened the week with a pair of DNPs due to a calf injury he suffered Monday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that Thornhill is trending in the right direction for Monday's Week 13 game, per Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site, but the veteran safety may need to practice in some capacity Saturday in order to be able to suit up against Denver. If Thornhill can't play Monday, Ronnie Hickman may move into a starting role.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Set to return Week 7
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Thornhill (calf) is active Week 7 against the Bengals.
Thornhill was activated from the IR on Saturday following a week of limited practices, paving the way for a return to action in Week 7. He hasn't seen the field since Week 1 against the Cowboys, when he served as the starting free safety, playing 95 percent of the team's defensive snaps and logging nine combined tackles.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Designated to return
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Thornhill (calf) was designated to return from injured reserve Wednesday.
Thornhill missed Cleveland's last five games after sustaining a calf injury late in the Browns' Week 1 loss to the Cowboys, but it now appears he's nearing a return to the field. The 28-year-old's participation Thursday and Friday will be the best indication of whether he can return for the Browns' Week 7 matchup against the Bengals. However, Cleveland must still activate Thornhill to its active roster in order for him to suit up Sunday.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Dealing with illness
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Thornhill missed Tuesday's practice as a result of an illness, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Thornhill will look to rest up and attempt to be ready to go for Saturday's preseason opener against the Packers. Regardless of whether he's feeling better or not, it's unlikely that the safety will see much action, if any, versus Green Bay.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Browns want more in 2024
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Thornhill posted 54 tackles and one pass defensed over 11 regular-season games in 2023.
Thornhill had a noticeable drop-off in production from his days with the Chiefs. Both the team and the player expected more after Thornhill signed a three-year deal a year ago, and the Browns need more of his previous version this coming season. There was a nagging calf injury, and he may never have been completely healthy. Thornhill is expected to rejoin Grant Delpit (groin) on the back end of the Browns' defense.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Available Saturday
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Thornhill (calf) is good to go for Saturday's wild-card matchup with the Texans.
Thornhill sat out the Browns' regular-season finale, but it looks like his health recovered in time for Saturday's tilt. Look for him to resume his usual responsibilities at safety assuming he avoids any setbacks.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Makes return to practice
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Thornhill (calf) was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
After missing the Browns' regular-season finale and being listed as a nonparticipant at practice Tuesday, Thornhill was able to take a positive step Wednesday toward possibly suiting up for the wild-card round. He'll still likely need to manage a full practice Thursday to avoid carrying an injury designation into Friday and potentially gameday.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Won't suit up at Cincy
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Thornhill (calf) is out for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Thornhill unexpectedly appeared on the Browns' injury report Thursday with a calf issue, and now he'll miss his sixth game of the season in Week 18. In his absence, Ronnie Hickman may start at safety Sunday.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Pops up on injury report
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Thornhill (calf) was a limited participant at the Browns' practice Thursday.
Thornhill popped up on the injury report Thursday with an apparent calf injury, putting his status in question for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Bengals. The safety will look to return to a full workload at Friday's final session of the week, after which Cleveland's injury designations for Week 18 will be reported.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Quiet day Thursday
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Thornhill recorded four tackles (three solo) in Thursday's 37-20 win versus the Jets.
Despite leading Cleveland's safeties in snaps in Week 17 (55), Thornhill was only able to tally four total tackles in his return from his calf injury. He continues to play relatively well in coverage though, so he will likely retain a near every-down role in Week 18 at Cincinnati.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Active Thursday
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Thornhill (calf) is active for Thursday's game against the Jets.
The starting free safety will return after missing three straight games. Thornhill has 50 tackles and a pass defensed in 10 appearances this season.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Ready for Sunday
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Thornhill (calf) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
The 28-year-old safety was a full participant in Friday's practice, and it now seems as if he's had enough time to move past his calf issue. Thornhill has appeared in 10 games in his first season with the Browns, logging 50 total tackles and one pass deflection.
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Browns' Juan Thornhill: Misses practice Wednesday
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Thornhill (calf) did not participate at the Browns' practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Thornhill has played through his calf issue each of the last two weeks and even lead the team with seven tackles in Cleveland's 36-19 loss to the Rams, so his absence at practice to open the week isn't particularly concerning. The safety will look to return to the field at some point ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Jaguars at home.
