Browns release 1 of their 4 quarterbacks, and bring back a key running back, as expected (2024)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Browns have released fourth-string quarterback Tyler Huntley after failing to find a trade partner, a league source told cleveland.com.

They also re-signed running back D’Onta Foreman, as cleveland.com has reported since Tuesday they would do. Foreman’s contract had been terminated on Tuesday.

They also announced the signing of three players to the practice squad, two of whom had previously been reported by cleveland.com. They are running back Gary Brightwell, cornerback Mike Ford Jr., and tight end Blake Whiteheart.

The Browns carried four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster for two days, but let Huntley go Thursday after efforts to trade him failed. One possible opportunity fizzled on Wednesday when the Chargers acquired Taylor Heinicke in a trade with the Falcons. Another dried up earlier in the week when the Packers acquired Malik Willis in a trade with the Falcons. A third went by the wayside on Thursday when the Vikings released Jaren Hall and signed veteran Brett Rypien.

The Browns still have two quarterbacks behind Deshaun Watson in Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Thompson-Robinson was informed on cutdown day that he had made the 53-man roster and didn’t have to sweat out subsequent trades and rumors. The Browns had inquiries about the other quarterbacks, but nothing came to fruition.

Now, coach Kevin Stefanski will just have to determine if he’s keeping Winston as the No. 2, or if he’ll elevate Thompson-Robinson, who had an excellent camp in coming back from a dislocated hip. He’ll most likely maintain the status quo heading into the opener Sept. 8 against the Cowboys, but Thompson-Robinson is picking up steam after making a big leap in his second season.

On Tuesday, Stefanski declined to set the depth chart at the spot when asked if Winston was his backup for the Cowboys game.

The Browns weren’t actively shopping Winston, but are always willing to listen, and would’ve considered trading him if someone made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. Last season, they traded backup QB Joshua Dobbs on roster cutdown day, and installed Thompson-Robinson as the No. 2. He proved to not be ready, but he’s come a long way since then, with the game slowing down and him acclimating to the speed of NFL players.

As for Foreman, an eighth-year pro, the plan was always to bring him back when the Browns terminated his contract on Tuesday. He’ll play Kareem Hunt’s former third-down, short-yardage and goal-line role this season. On the second-to-last day at The Greenbrier, Foreman was transported via helicopter after suffering a neck injury in practice. He was released later that day and returned to practice just over a week later. He also suffered a rib injury during the preseason finale Saturday in Seattle.

Whiteheart, who joins David Njoku and Jordan Akins in the tight end group but not yet on the 53, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Cardinals last season out of Wake Forest and finished 2023 on the team. As a senior, he caught 24 passes for 295 yards and three TDs.

Ford, who was second on the Browns with nine special teams tackles last season, joins the practice squad after being released by the Texans.