Finding the truth behind Michael Woods II stats is kinda like trying to track a ghost in a Cleveland fog. One minute he's the "sleeper" pick everyone’s buzzing about in training camp, and the next, he's vanishing onto the injured reserve or a practice squad in a different city.
He's a player defined more by what could have been than what shows up on a Sunday afternoon box score. Honestly, if you just look at the raw numbers, you’re missing the actual story of a guy who has survived an Achilles rupture, a hand injury, and the brutal churn of the NFL roster bubble.
The NFL Reality of Michael Woods II Stats
Let’s be real. The career stat line for Michael Woods II isn't going to win anyone a fantasy football championship. Not yet, anyway. Since being drafted in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns, his production has been... sparse.
12 receptions. 110 yards. 0 touchdowns.
That is the sum total of his regular-season output across 15 games played over two active seasons. It’s a modest haul. But when you dig into the 2024 campaign, you see a glimpse of why coaches kept him around as long as they did. Last year, in five games of action, he grabbed 7 passes for 65 yards.
He was targeted 17 times. That’s a 41.2% catch rate, which, frankly, isn't great. However, context matters. He was playing in a Browns offense that was essentially a rotating door of quarterbacks and scheme changes. In a Week 17 loss to Miami, he actually saw a massive jump in usage, playing 68 offensive snaps (about 86% of the team's total) but only walked away with one 3-yard catch. That's the kind of stat that keeps a player on the fringes.
Breakout or Bust? The 2024 Numbers
- Games Played: 5
- Receptions: 7
- Targets: 17
- Receiving Yards: 65
- Yards Per Catch: 9.3
- Catch Percentage: 41.2%
The "Advanced" look tells an even weirder story. He had 35 yards after catch (YAC) in 2024. That means over half of his total yardage came from him actually doing something with the ball after the catch, rather than just falling down. He’s got the physical tools—6'1", 204 pounds, and a 4.27-second 40-yard dash time that would make most track stars jealous.
Why the College Stats Promised So Much More
If you want to understand why NFL scouts were obsessed with him, you have to look at the Michael Woods II stats from his days at Arkansas and Oklahoma. This wasn't some project player with no tape. He was a legit deep threat in the SEC.
During his junior year at Arkansas in 2020, he was basically a human highlight reel. He averaged 19.3 yards per catch. Think about that for a second. Every time he caught the ball, the chains moved nearly 20 yards. He finished that season with 619 yards and 5 touchdowns on only 32 catches.
Then he hopped into the transfer portal and headed to Oklahoma. In 2021, playing for the Sooners, he became more of a volume guy, catching 35 passes for 400 yards. He finished his college career with 1,648 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
The pedigree is there. The production in the hardest conferences in America was there. So, what happened?
The "Injury Luck" That Derailed Everything
Bad luck doesn't even begin to cover it.
In April 2023, while working out with Deshaun Watson, Woods suffered a ruptured Achilles. It’s one of the most devastating injuries a wide receiver can face. It cost him the entire 2023 season. Just as he was trying to build momentum after a rookie year where he caught 5 passes for 45 yards, the floor fell out.
Then came the 2025 preseason. He was having a decent camp with the Browns, even lighting up the Seattle Seahawks in a preseason game with two touchdowns. But then, a hand injury struck. Cleveland waived him with an injury designation in August 2025.
He eventually landed on the Green Bay Packers practice squad in November 2025, but they let him go in early December. As of January 2026, he’s a free agent looking for his next shot.
The Contract Situation
He originally signed a 4-year, $3.83 million rookie contract. Because of the injuries and the moves, his career earnings currently sit around $2 million. He’s essentially at a crossroads. He’ll be a Restricted Free Agent (RFA) or Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) depending on how his service time is calculated after the injury settlements, but the bottom line is he needs a camp invite for 2026.
What Really Happened in Cleveland?
People often ask why the Browns moved on if the talent was so obvious. It’s the "multiple position value" trap. His coach, Chad O'Shea, once praised him for being mentally strong enough to play all over the formation.
But in the NFL, if you're a "jack of all trades" who is constantly rehabbing, you eventually get replaced by a specialist who is healthy. The Browns' receiving corps was struggling, and they couldn't afford to wait for Woods to find his 2020 Arkansas form again. Between his Achilles recovery and a 6-game suspension in late 2023 for a personal conduct policy violation, he just couldn't stay on the field long enough to establish chemistry with any of the five different quarterbacks Cleveland started over the last few years.
Actionable Insights for 2026
If you’re a fan or a scout watching Michael Woods II, don't look at the 110 career yards. Look at the athleticism.
Watch the 2026 Free Agency wire. A team like the Texans (who worked him out in September 2025) or a team needing vertical depth will likely give him a "prove-it" deal for training camp. He’s only 25. In wide receiver years, that’s still a ceiling he hasn't hit.
Monitor his health reports. The hand injury was a fluke, but the Achilles is the long-term concern. If he’s still running that 4.4-range speed, he’s a viable deep threat for a team looking for a bargain.
Ignore the fantasy rankings. For now, he’s a "zero-percent rostered" player. But in deep dynasty leagues? He’s a name to keep on a "watch list" in case he lands in a pass-heavy offense during the summer.
Ultimately, Michael Woods II is a reminder that the jump from college to the pros isn't just about talent; it’s about timing and health. His stats tell a story of interrupted progress. The next chapter depends entirely on whether his body can finally keep up with his potential.
Check the NFL transaction logs around May and June. That is when teams fill out their 90-man rosters, and that is exactly where a guy with Woods' 19-yards-per-catch potential finds his way back into the league.