Browns officially sign S Karl Joseph

The Cleveland Browns officially signed safety Karl Joseph on Monday.

A former first-round selection by the Oakland Raiders, Joseph battled injuries during four seasons with Oakland. He appeared in just 49 total games with the Raiders, posting 236 tackles and four interceptions.

Joseph played in nine games last season before suffering a season-ending foot injury, which required surgery in November. Joseph is still working his way back into shape, he told clevelandbrowns.com:

“I had a post-offseason meeting with my surgeon back in February. He said everything was great. We are just working my way back to 100 percent right now. I am doing what I can with everything that is going on right now. I am working my way back to running and cutting back on the field. I am getting close back to that point. I think us having this time off now is going to give me a lot more time to be back to 100 percent by the time we hopefully report, whenever that is – training camp or whatever. I will be 100 percent by then.”

Joseph, who is on a one-year deal, joins fellow veteran safety Andrew Sendejo in a rebuilt secondary that should provide plenty of opportunities for Joseph to earn his next deal, he told the team’s website:

“For me, it is kind of a prove-it deal. Sometimes you have take [measures] to show your worth, so I think that is my mindset. My mindset is not thinking I am on the one year. My mindset is to go ahead and do my job to the best of my capability and help this team win games, and hopefully, we can work out something long term. I am not looking to be one year and out. Part of choosing the Browns was also going somewhere where I felt like I would be able to grow not only on the field but off the field and in the community, as well. I think that would be a great opportunity in Cleveland.”

Joseph is the 12th player signed by the Browns in free agency.