This story has been updated with new information, including a later transaction.
BEREA — The Browns officially announced eight more players to the practice squad. Three of those players — Bailey Zappe, Malachi Corley and Cole Strange — had previously been reported.
The eight additions announced are:
Bates and Jones were added to the practice squad later in the day after having cleared waivers. The additions, as well as releasing defensive tackle Ralph Holley from the practice squad, raise the total number of players on the Browns’ practice squad to 16,
Zappe, as a quarterback with starting experience, obviously is the headliner of the group. However, his former New England Patriots teammate Strange may be the more intriguing candidate.
“A guy that we have been around,” coach Kevin Stefanski said Aug. 28. “We trust (him), good kid, works very hard.”
Stefanski said the addition does nothing to change the established pecking order on the active roster: Joe Flacco as the starter, with Dillon Gabriel No. 2 and Shedeur Sanders as the No. 3.
Strange was a 2022 first-round pick out of Tennessee-Chattanooga of New England who has made starts both at center and guard, with 29 total starts in 30 career games. He provides experienced potential depth at the former with starter Ethan Pocic battling a knee injury and Luke Wypler the only other true center on the 53-man roster, and potential long-term help with both guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller in the final years of their contract.
“Like you mentioned, starting experience and a guy that, again, we did a lot of work on him when he was coming out,” Stefanski said, “so know him really well and I think it’s this point where you add guys to your team that you want to take a look at, continue their development.”
The 6-foot-5, 310-pound Strange suffered a torn patelllar tendon in December 2023. That limited him to just three games with two starts in 2024.
Another practice squad addition who could find his way into a role on the active roster is Corley, a second-year pro out of Western Kentucky. Corley was originally selected by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2024 draft, but appeared in only nine games with three catches for 16 yards as a rookie.
Corley joins one of the Browns’ own cuts, Kaden Davis, as wide receivers on the practice squad. Both figure to have a chance to, at the least, be game day elevations.
Ulofoshio is the only other signee among the six with previous NFL experience. The former 2024 fourth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills appeared in four games as a rookie.
Dellington was a seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in April out of LSU. Brown was originally an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Vikings out of Kansas.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns 2025 roster | 8 more added to practice squad, including Cole Strange, Bailey Zappe
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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