CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hue Jackson's ears perked up Tuesday when asked about the Browns inquiring about former Pro Bowl receiver Jeremy Maclin.
"I think that's a good thing, if we did," Jackson said. "I don't know much about that, but to have an opportunity, one thing I know about our group is we're going to continue to look at ways to improve our football team.
"I've said that numerous times, and I give (head of football operations) Sashi (Browns) a lot of credit for that. I think we're always out there looking. If there's a player available, then we're going to take a peek at him and see if he can help our football team.''
ESPN reported that Maclin, 29, the former first-rounder who was released by the Chiefs Friday, will visit the Bills today and the Ravens tomorrow. It said the Browns have also inquired, and a source confirmed for cleveland.com that the Browns have indeed done their due diligence on the former first-round receiver.
The interest comes at a time when 2016 first-round pick Corey Coleman is sidelined from OTAs with a few injuries and fellow starter Kenny Britt is limited.
Both sat out Tuesday's practice, which was open to the media.
Coleman could be out until training camp with his injuries, which one source said includes a sore hamstring. That's significant, because Coleman missed two preseason games with a hamstring injury last season and also time at Baylor. Coleman also missed six games last season with a broken hand suffered in practice after week two.
Britt has been practicing on some days, while resting on others with an unspecified ailment that he says is minor.
"It's just the schedule they've got me on right now, and I'm pretty sure it's going to change," Britt said.
Britt said he doesn't know Maclin personally.
"All I know is that we got drafted in the same year,'' he said. "But if they do bring him in, we'll welcome him with open arms like they welcomed me."
Britt acknowledged that the loss of Coleman in OTAs has been a blow.
"He was having a great OTAs to tell you the truth," Britt said. "This was my first time actually getting to see him practice out there on the field to tell you the truth, and he's a great complement to any other guy that's on the other side. Regardless of who's at quarterback, he's out there making plays."
Britt believes the Browns will be fine even if they don't bring in Maclin, based on what he's seen from second-year wideouts Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins and Jordan Payton in these OTAs.
"To tell you the truth, they don't look like rookies out there on the practice field,'' he said. "I know a game is different than practice, but those guys have come along. I watch them. I learn from them each and every day, how they get off the line of scrimmage, how they study in the classroom. They actually help me out with the playbook. So those guys you can't really tell they were rookies last year 'cause those guys came along."
Maclin (6-0, 198) was cut by the Chiefs after the second year of a five-year free-agent contract worth $55 million. They owed him $7.2 million guaranteed for 2017, but saved $10 million by making the move. Plagued by injuries last season, he caught only 44 passes for 536 yards and 2 TDs. But in 2015, he caught 87 for 1,088 and 8 TDs.
"These decisions are never easy, especially with a player like Jeremy who I've grown close with on and off the football field over the years," coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "I have a lot of respect for the way he goes about his business and how he handles himself as a professional. I wish him the best of luck moving forward."
Originally the No. 19 overall pick of the Eagles in 2009 out of Missouri, he's averaged 68 catches, 914 yards and 7 TD throughout his seven-year career. He also sat out all of 2013 after tearing his right ACL for the second time, including once in college.