So...what is going on with LJ Scott?

Earlier this week, Michigan State Spartans running back LJ Scott signed with the Cleveland Browns. This was followed by a rookie camp tryout with the Baltimore Ravens when Scott left Baltimore unsigned.

Now, according to Dana Balash — sports director for WFMJ TV in Scott’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio — Scott has not only left the Browns, but also is contemplating whether or not he has a future in professional football.

Scott, who could have returned to East Lansing in 2019 had he not played in the Redbox Bowl (thanks to a new rule in 2018 that allowed players to still redshirt after appearing in four games or less), went undrafted in April’s NFL Draft. Scott also chose to return to MSU for his senior season in 2018 instead of declaring as a junior following the 2017 campaign, where his draft stock likely would have been much higher.

Scott was absent from the team’s organized team activities on Wednesday, just two days after he signed a contract. These are voluntary, but it doesn’t make sense for an undrafted free agent trying to prove himself to not attend these workouts.

Now today, we have learned that the Browns announced the signing of D’Ernest Johnson, another running back, to the roster today. To make room for Johnson, the team has in fact waived Scott. Johnson most recently played with the Orlando Apollos of the Alliance of American Football league. So, it is confirmed that Scott’s time in Cleveland is finished before it even got started.

Scott has not made a statement himself. This whole situation seems odd, though. Why sign with a team at all if he no longer was passionate for the game? Perhaps there is something bigger at play — his health, maybe? But some things are bigger than football, and let’s hope everything is OK.

Whatever the case, we sincerely hope that everything is fine with Scott, and that he is able to figure out his plan for the future.