Familiar face is signed to Arizona Cardinals practice squad

Former undrafted free agent Jaron Brown has returned to the Arizona Cardinals after a two-year hiatus away from the organization

Seven years have gone by now since the Arizona Cardinals signed a little-known wide receiver out of Clemson University. In April of 2013, the club’s front office signed Jaron Brown to a free agent contract. The 6’3, 204 pounder went unselected during the NFL Draft, but was welcomed into the Cards locker room immediately after the three-day event had reached it’s conclusion.

Brown, who spent five mildly-productive campaigns in the desert, played the last two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. Just last month, the 30-year old inked a one-year deal with another one of Arizona’s division rivals. Brown’s stint with the San Francisco 49ers would last just one week, however, after the club released the veteran to make room for the well-traveled Kevin White.

On Wednesday, the Cardinals announced that they had signed Brown to their practice squad. The acquisition could very well be insurance for Christian Kirk, the team’s third-year wideout. Apparently, the Cards second-round draft pick in 2018 suffered a groin injury this past Sunday, during the squad’s 30-15 victory over the Washington football team.

In 71 career appearances (12 starts) with Arizona, Brown totaled 86 receptions,1,177 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The receiver’s best campaign was in 2017, when he registered 31 catches, 477 yards and four scores for the Redbirds.

Brown appeared in 30 contests for the Seahawks, and was credited with six starts. The native of Puerto Rico caught 30 passes for 386 yards and seven touchdowns during the two years he spent in the Pacific Northwest.

DeAndre Hopkins, the Cardinals newly-acquired superstar, was a teammate of Brown’s at Clemson. Others like Sammy Watkins, Martavis Bryant, Adam Humphries and Charone Peake were also a part of the school’s top-rate receiving corps back in 2012.

Whether Brown will be called up to the Cards 53-man roster or not remains to be seen. The severity of Kirk’s injury could be the determining factor. Whether he gets a chance or not, there are fans of the franchise who would agree that Brown is an intriguing option for the “Air Raid” offense.