The Cleveland Browns released wide receiver Cedric Tillman on Thursday afternoon, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. ProFootballTalk also confirmed the team planned to cut him.
The move trims the Browns' receiving corps as the roster takes shape for the regular season. No corresponding move has been announced.
Tillman's release is a definitive evaluation. Cleveland had a chance to keep him on the roster and chose otherwise. The team's receiver depth is now thinner, and the decision signals confidence in the pass-catchers who remain.
The timing is notable. Late August is when teams make hard cuts, and the Browns decided Tillman didn't fit.
For Tillman, the next stop will be with another club. For the Browns, this move is about the receiver room they've built.
The Browns have made their choice. Tillman's future will show whether it was the right one.