Browns sign Ryan Switzer to practice squad

The Cleveland Browns signed veteran kick returner Ryan Switzer to the practice squad on Thursday.

Cleveland will mark Switzer’s fourth team since he was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

The 5-foot-9 and 183-pound Switzer, who has also seen some time at wide receiver, could see a move to the active roster as early as this Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said on Thursday, according to The Beacon Journal’s Nate Ulrich.

If the club is not confident that Switzer can contribute on such short notice, Priefer will be choosing from running backs D’Ernest Johnson and Dontrell Hilliard, or rookie wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones.

In 41 career games, Switzer has returned 67 punts for an average of eight yards per return, and 63 kickoffs for an average of 21.8 yards per return. He has added 50 receptions for 321 yards and a touchdown.

Switzer played his rookie season with the Cowboys and was traded to the Raiders in 2018. He was subsequently traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers before the start of the 2018 season and spent the past two years in Pittsburgh

He landed on the injured reserve list in 2019 after suffering a back injury in a Week 9 game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Switzer was released at the end of training camp this September.

In two career games against the Browns, both of which came in 2018, Switzer returned five kickoffs for an average of 18.4 yards per return, eight punts for an average of 12.75 yards per return, and rushed once for eight yards.