CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The Cleveland Browns have signed CB Tony Brown, DT Quinton Jefferson and re-signed WR James Proche.
Brown most recently spent the 2022-23 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, and recorded 10 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble in 12 games last season.
Brown was a key contributor on the Colts special teams unit, and will reunite with Browns special teams coordinator, Bubba Ventrone, who both were in Indianapolis in 2022.
Brown is entering his seventh NFL season out of Alabama, and was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Brown has spent time with the Packers (2018-2019), Bengals (2020-2021) and Colts (2022-2023) prior to joining the Browns.
He has recorded 58 career tackles and one interception, while adding 17 career special teams tackles.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson is entering his ninth NFL season out of Maryland. Jefferson was selected by Seattle in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, and has appeared in 103 career games with 62 starts with the Seahawks (2016-19, 2022), Bills (2020), Raiders (2021) and Jets (2023).
Jefferson has recorded 192 career tackles, 26.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries. Last season, he started 14 games for the Jets and registered 34 tackles and six sacks.
The Browns will have their primary punt returner, James Proche back for another season. Proche was first signed to the practice squad in October of 2023, and was elevated to the active roster on November 7.
Proche appeared in 10 games last season with the Browns and led the team with 197 punt return yards. Originally a sixth-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, Proche has appeared in 53 career games, recording 25 career receptions for 278 yards and added 49 career punt returns for 419 yards.