As NFL rosters were trimmed less than 24 hours ago, some former NFL players will never get a call back from an NFL team but two players did this afternoon by the Cleveland Browns.
Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Malik Jefferson and Arizona Cardinals tight end Ricky Seals-Jones were claimed by the Browns, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
Jefferson, a former third-round pick out of Texas, was a second-team All-American as a junior in 2017. Coming out of high school in Texas, he was honored with the Butkus Award as the nation’s top prep linebacker.
In his rookie season with the Bengals, Jefferson only played 10 games. He recorded five tackles before being placed on season-ending injured reserve with a foot injury. Jefferson played 85 snaps this preseason, mostly on special teams. He registered five tackles and a hit on the quarterback.
Seals-Jones makes his way to the Browns by way of a new coach and system in Arizona with the Cardinals. The former undrafted tight end out of Texas A&M, Seals-Jones, has collected 46 receptions for 544 yards and four touchdowns in 25 professional games. He played with Freddie Kitchens in Arizona.
Through four games this preseason, he played 185 snaps with 53 coming in the slot and 39 on the line. Seals-Jones hauled in seven receptions for 93 yards for the Cardinals.
Both Jefferson and Seals-Jones claims come as no surprise as the Browns were expected to look for a third tight end and add to special teams with some linebacker upside. They fill both those needs with Seals-Jones and Jefferson.
