Michael Woods II is ready to return after injury and suspension derailed the 2023 season

BEREA – Michael Woods II started playing flag football at age 5 and switched to tackle at age 7. He missed the most games than anything else during his senior year at the University of Oklahoma.

Until last year.

Woods, 24, missed the entire season after tearing his left Achilles tendon on April 3 during a workout with quarterback Deshaun Watson in Houston. He returned to the practice field in the offseason, looking stronger and catching the attention of the coaching staff as he battles for a roster spot in a crowded receiver room.

“I’m thankful, man,” he told Brownszone.com on Wednesday during mandatory minicamp. “It’s been January 2023 since I last got to play. It feels good to smell the grass and feel the sunshine and actually run and stuff. Just thankful.”

The injury wasn’t Woods’ only misstep. During his absence, the NFL suspended him for the final six games. He wouldn’t reveal the reason for the suspension or whether he agreed with the punishment — “I won’t go into that either,” he said — but a league source said it was because of his off-field behavior.

“Some things you can’t really control. Some things you can control,” said Woods, who did not appeal the suspension. “The whole last year was a learning experience for me, so I just used it to grow as an individual.”

He has a lot to prove this season to stay with the Browns, but doesn’t think the organization will hold the suspension against him.

“Everyone in this building, everyone knows me,” he said. “They know I’m a professional. I go to work, do my job, and that’s it. So I don’t worry too much about my perception, and the people who are around me every day know who I am.”

Woods was cleared to walk in December and returned to the team the week of the playoff loss to the Texans. Making matters worse, Woods, a sixth-round pick in 2022, had not yet established himself as a necessary part of the offense. In 10 games as a rookie, he caught five passes for 45 yards. Then he missed a year.

“It’s like being a boxer and getting hit early in the rounds,” receivers coach and passing game coordinator Chad O’Shea said Thursday. “That’s what happens to a player early in his career. But no matter when that happens, player resilience is the most important thing, and the great thing about Mike Woods is we believe he has that resilience and he’s going to fight through it. And it’s been really impressive to see his progress after the injury. He’s really come back strong after an injury that’s a tough injury at that position.”

Woods was training with Watson and others at the University of Houston when his Achilles tendon ruptured. He ran a routine 10-yard route, turned left and “it just snapped.”

“I didn’t know what happened at all,” Woods said. “It didn’t hurt or anything. I thought Deshaun hit me in the leg with the football, so I looked around and thought, ‘What happened?’ And they told me they thought I kicked myself because of the noise my Achilles was making.”

“I knew I hadn’t kicked myself, but I couldn’t walk, my foot was dead. And then I felt around behind my ankle and there was nothing there, so I knew it was torn.”

He said he had no pain after the surgery or during rehab. The rehab was easier than any hamstring strain he’s ever had. He said he didn’t sulk for long, but not being able to play was tough on him.

“That season was the hardest,” he said. “That was the hardest time when I had to sit on my couch as a fan … and watch other people do what I love.”

He also observed the receiver group change “a lot” over the past two offseasons. General manager Andrew Berry traded Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy and signed Cedric Tillman and Jamari Thrash. Add in Amari Cooper, David Bell and others, and Woods has plenty of competition for the roster.

“My role is what I make it. Coach O’Shea tells us that all the time,” Woods said. “So I play my role every day at practice. That’s totally up to me.”

“My goal for today was to have great meetings, to do a lot of work, to have a great day on the field, to be mentally focused and to physically execute what I needed to do. And I think the chips will fall where they are supposed to fall.”

Coach Kevin Stefanski said the team was “really pleased” with Woods’ progress.

“He just has to stay healthy,” Stefanski said.

“I’m 100 percent healthy,” Woods said. “I feel good. I’m moving. Everyone’s been telling me I look good. I don’t think I’ve slowed down a step.”

He is as confident as ever.

“My motto was that the odds never mattered,” he said. “Because the odds never mattered to me. I always beat the odds. I shouldn’t be here.”

“There’s a good chance I’ll take a step back or slow down after Achilles tendon surgery, but I’ve never been worried.”

Browns writer for The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette. Proud graduate of Northwestern University. Husband and stepfather. Avid golfer who has to hit the range to get to a single-digit handicap. Right with Johnny Manziel, wrong with Brandon Weeden. Contact Scott at 440-329-7253 or email and follow him on and On twitter.