Cleveland Browns cornerback Tony Brown plays during an NFL game against the New York Giants on Sept. 22, 2024, at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.(AP Photo/Kirk Irwin)
In announcing the signing of cornerback Tony Brown on Thursday, the Cleveland Browns said: “The ultimate energy guy returns.”
Brown became an unrestricted free agent on March 12 but has returned to Cleveland for a second season. Terms of Brown’s contract were not disclosed.
The former Alabama defensive back originally joined the Browns as a free agent in March 2024. He spent the first five weeks of the 2024 season on the practice squad.
Brown still played in three games as a practice-squad elevation. Because practice-squad players are limited to three elevations per season, Cleveland signed Brown to its 53-man active roster on Oct. 10 to keep him playing.
Brown played in three more games before he went on injured reserve on Oct. 29 because of a foot injury and missed the remainder of the season.
Brown was on the field for 136 special-teams plays in 2024. On his first play of the season for Cleveland, Brown caused a fumble on the opening kickoff against the New York Giants on Sept. 22.
Brown entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2018 from Alabama’s 2017 CFP national championship team. He also has played for the Green Bay Packers, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts and been on the rosters of the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders. In 67 NFL games for four teams, he has been on the field for 494 defensive snaps and 1,193 special-teams plays.
