Browns sign defensive end Bryan Cox

The Cleveland Browns made a minor roster addition on Wednesday as the team claimed defensive end Bryan Cox off waivers.

The transaction comes a day after the Browns opened up a roster spot by releasing linebacker Malik Jefferson.

Cox, who is the son of former NFL player and assistant coach Bryan Cox, was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-3 and 270-pound Cox played in 19 games with with Panthers, posting 17 tackles and one fumble recovery. He played in one game this season, the November meeting against the Tennessee Titans, and finished with one tackle.

In August, Cox was cited for possession of marijuana and speeding while driving back from the Panthers training camp site in Spartanburg, S.C., according to an ESPN.com article. The Panthers released Cox at the end of the preseason, but signed him back to the practice squad on October 1.

Cox will presumably serve as a backup to defensive end Chad Thomas on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers as starting defensive end Olivier Vernon is expected to miss his second consecutive game with a knee injury.

When the Browns released Jefferson it was expected that they were doing so to create a roster spot for offensive lineman Drew Forbes, how has been practicing with the team since coming off injured reserve on October 24. The team has to decide if they will activate Forbes by Thursday, if not then he will return to injured reserve for the remainder of the season.