With Kareem Hunt going back to Kansas C
Former Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt has finally found a new opportunity after not being signed this offseason. Hunt is reportedly signing with the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad on Tuesday, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
The former Browns running back will return to Kansas City after the Chiefs lost Isiah Pacheco to a fractured fibula, who will be out for at least 6-8 weeks. Hunt is coming off a solid 2023 season with the Browns where he had 411 yards on the ground and nine touchdowns on 135 carries.
With Hunt heading back to Kansas City, it’s the perfect time to check what other former Browns players are still searching for their next NFL opportunity.
Some of these players worked out for various NFL teams this summer. Meanwhile, other players were released by the Browns during training camp. That said, it's not the end of the road for these players as they still can get opportunities through workouts during the regular season.
1. Duron Harmon
The veteran defensive back is still unsigned after the first two weeks of the 2024 NFL regular season. Harmon spent last season with the Chicago Bears and Browns.
The 33-year-old safety was waived by the Bears last November and signed to Cleveland’s practice squad two weeks later. Harmon was elevated off the Browns’ taxi squad last December and played four games.
In those games, the veteran defensive back had 16 combined tackles, three tackles for loss, two pass deflections, a sack, a quarterback hit, and an interception.
Harmon was asked about potentially playing again with the Patriots earlier this offseason. The veteran defensive back said he wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to return to Foxborough to play under first-year head coach Jerod Mayo.
However, it’s been quiet on Harmon’s front, which doesn’t come as a surprise at this stage of his career. Now granted, it’s still early in the 2024 season as injuries will continue to rise throughout the league.
Nonetheless, Harmon will likely not jump at any opportunity as he wants to win and contribute after spending the last four seasons with different five teams.
2. Giovanni Ricci
The 27-year-old tight end was waived due to an injury late last month ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. The Browns expected Ricci to compete for a spot on the active roster or the practice squad after signing him to a one-year deal in the offseason.
Ricci suffered a knee injury in Cleveland’s second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Ohio native was ruled out for the rest of the game as head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that Ricci would be sidelined for “weeks.”
Before signing with the Browns this offseason, Ricci spent the first three years of his career with the Carolina Panthers. In his three-year run with the Panthers, the 6-foot-3 tight end posted nine receptions (12 targets) for 102 yards in 36 games.
The former fullback-turned-tight end hasn’t received any workouts or visits throughout the first two weeks of the season, which could mean he’s not healthy yet.
3. Jacob Phillips
The 25-year-old linebacker is still sitting in free agency after getting released by the Houston Texans late last month.
The former Browns linebacker signed with the Texans in March after the Browns placed him on injured reserve last summer for the 2023 season. Cleveland took Phillips in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
The former LSU defender appeared in 20 games over his three-year run with the Browns. He posted 88 combined tackles, five tackles for loss, five pass deflections, and four quarterback hits.
Phillips’ best season with the Browns happened in 2022 when he had 46 combined tackles, two tackles for loss, two quarterback hits, two sacks, and a pass deflection. But Phillips only played in seven games because of a season-ending pectoral injury.
Nonetheless, it’s good to see Phillips find another opportunity with the Texans, even though it did not work out. The former Browns linebacker recently worked out for the Buffalo Bills earlier this month.
If Phillips can show he can stay healthy, it’s only a matter of time before we see him get signed to a team’s practice squad.
ity, it's the perfect time to see which other former Browns players are still looking for their next opportunity.
