The Cleveland Browns welcomed back a few familiar faces to the building as the club deals with the loss of a pair of players to injured reserve and some ongoing injury issues.
First up, the Browns signed
offensive tackle Jeremiah Byers off the practice squad of the Arizona Cardinals, running back Trayveon Williams from the practice squad of the Los Angeles Chargers, and cornerback Tre Avery from their own practice squad.
The 6-foot-4 and 320-pound Byers originally signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent from Florida State. He began his collegiate career at UTEP, making 30 starts over four seasons and earning a first-team All-Conference USA selection in 2022. He than transferred to Florida State, where he made 22 starts at right tackle in two years with the Seminoles.
His athletic testing was not the greatest, however, which lead him to go undrafted.
With right tackle Jack Conklin still dealing with a concussion, Byers could be in line for a backup role this week against the Chicago Bears.
Cleveland had the 5-foot-8 and 206-pound Williams “in the building,” as all the cool kids like to say during the preseason, where he played in three games, rushing seven times for 30 yards, and catching five passes for 33 yards. The Browns released him on roster cutdown day and then signed him to the practice squad, but saw the Chargers sign Williams in late October.
Williams appeared in three games with the Chargers, rushing three times for minus-1 yard, and catching one pass for zero yards.
Originally a sixth-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2019 NFL Draft, Williams spent six seasons with the Bengals. In 68 career games in Cincinnati, he only had 62 carries for 307 yards and no touchdowns, while adding 15 receptions for 74 yards.
He did log 873 snaps on special teams for the Bengals, and another 38 with the Chargers, so he can be an asset in that part of the game. And with running back Jerome Ford now on injured reserve, Williams could see some playing time in the return game on Sunday.
The 5-foot-11 and 185-pound Avery has played in six games with the Browns this season and has seven tackles while playing primarily on special teams.
In a corresponding transaction, the team waived safety Christoper Edmonds, who appeared in five games this season, almost exclusively on special teams.
Finally, the Browns signed defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II to the practice squad.
The 6-foot-2 and 290-pound Hurst was with the Browns in 2023 and 2024, playing in 21 games and posting a fumble recovery, two sacks, an interception, and 38 tackles, including eight tackles for loss.
After ending the 2024 season on injured reserve, Hurst entered free agency but did not sign with a team. Now in his eighth season, Hurst has played in 63 career games, with 116 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, and three fumble recoveries while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and the Browns.
To make room for Hurst, the team released defensive tackle Simeon Barrow Jr. from the practice squad. practice squad.
