Former players dot the rosters of all four NFL clubs
While members of the Cleveland Browns relax in cushy recliners in the warmth and sanctity of their own homes, four NFL teams remain playing. The AFC and NFC Championship Games will be played this Sunday to determine the conference representatives in Super Bowl LIX played in New Orleans on February 2.
There are several former Browns involved on the rosters of this weekend’s teams, many of which were starters or drafted by the franchise.
Washington Commanders
RB/WR Demetric Felton (2021-2022) – The only real NFL games Felton has played in was his time in Cleveland where he had four starts and played in 24 games. Since then, he has been a practice squad member of four different teams. He had signed a deal to play with Birmingham of the UFL before Washington inked him to a futures contract.
K Austin Seibert (2019-2020) – Currently on IR with a hip injury, in Week 2, he kicked seven field goals in his first game with the Commanders and was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. For the year he made 27 of 30 FG attempts and 22-24 on PATs.
K Zane Gonzalez (2017-2018) – All Washington needs to do is hire Cade York and they will have all of the recently drafted Cleveland kickers. Gonzalez has played just six games for Washington after Siebert was placed on IR. He has attempted 12 field goals and made nine.
DT Carl Davis (2018) – Davis played just five games for the Browns and registered just one tackle. The Browns re-signed Davis on a one-year $2 million contract but he was a last-day cut the following training camp. He is currently on the Commanders’ practice squad.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
RT Andrew Wylie (2017) – Wylie has found a home in Washington and started 14 games this season after 15 starts last year. Cleveland had signed him to their practice squad for two months before releasing him. He has really blossomed into a very good right tackle.
QB Jeff Driskel (2023) – Forever, Driskel will be an NFL trivia question: In 2023, the Cleveland Browns tied an NFL record for the most starting quarterbacks in a single season, but not until this journeyman started the final game. In his only start, Driskel went 13-26 for 166 yards with two touchdowns and two picks. He is listed as QB3 on the Commanders depth chart.
TE Lawrence Cager (2021) – Began his stint with Cleveland on the practice squad and was elevated for one game. Signed with Washington this month to a futures contract.
DT Sheldon Day (2020-2021) – Strictly a defensive line rotational player with the Browns and played just seven games. Has found a home in Washington as he has played in 12 games this season with 24 tackles and a sack.
Buffalo Bills
DT Quinton Jefferson (2024) – Jefferson was signed to compete for a starting DT spot but instead was cut by the Browns after just five games making just six tackles and a single sack. Has played seven games in Buffalo with 31 total tackles, four sacks, five tackles for loss, and eight QB hits. He isn’t starting for the Bills, but he is the first one off the bench.
Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images
WR Amari Cooper (2022-2024) – After six games this year, Coop was traded to the Bills which involved draft picks after capturing his fifth Pro Bowl the year before. He has played in eight games with Buffalo with 239 snaps and has two TD catches.
WR Coach Adam Henry (2018-2019) – The signing of Henry was a plus because it reunited him with Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, Jr. Now in his second season with Buffalo, he has won his first two division titles.
Kansas City Chiefs
Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images
RB Kareem Hunt (2019-2023) – Hunt is back home where he began his career and was the NFL rushing leader for one-and-a-half seasons. In Cleveland, he played the sidekick to Nick Chubb and never replicated the impressive feats he experienced early on. Hunt has since missed out on two Super Bowl rings after his Chiefs release in 2018. The Chiefs have been using him quite a bit since his late signing this year before Week 3. This year he has played in 13 games with eight starts and has 728 rushing yards. In the playoff win over the Houston Texans, Hunt led all KC rushers with 44 yards and scored a touchdown.
DT Siaki Ika (2023-2024) – The Browns spent a valuable third-round pick on Apu who never lived up to his billing. He is currently on the Chiefs practice squad.