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Cleveland Browns sign offensive lineman Kitt O’Brien

By Thomas Moore

BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - OCTOBER 11: Cleveland Browns helmets rest on the bench prior to a game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on October 11, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Cleveland Browns made a roster move on Sunday by signing former Indianapolis Colts offensive lineman Kitt O’Brien off waivers.

The Cleveland Browns continued to churn the bottom of the roster on Sunday by signing offensive lineman Kitt O’Brien.

In a corresponding transaction, the team released offensive lineman Chris Barker, who injured his Achilles during practice on Saturday.

The Browns announced the moves on their website.

The 6-foot-5 and 325-pound O’Brien originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2015 out of Ball State. He has spent time in training camp each of the past two years with the Colts, and also spent some time on Indianapolis’ practice squad.

Some fans may be familiar with O’Brien as he started 22 games with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena League.

While that doesn’t sound like the best career path for an NFL lineman, the nature of the Arena League game helped O’Brien refine what he believed was his biggest weakness, according to a 2015 article in the Pharos-Tribune:

"“It was different, I’ll tell you that. I loved every second of it. The big difference there was that everything was more pass protection, I had to be a thinker when I matched up against everyone because it was all one-on-one with your assignments. It was good for me because it refined the other part of my game and I really credit the Arena League for teaching me all about protection, which was my biggest weakness coming out of college.”"

It is going to be a rough go for O’Brien with the Browns as roster spots are in short supply along the offensive line. Cleveland is set with the starting five of Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, J.C. Tretter, Kevin Zeitler and the winner of the Shon Coleman vs. Cameron Erving camp battle at right tackle, the loser of which will still likely make the team.

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As for backups, second-year guard Spencer Drango is likely to make the team, and with veteran guard John Greco and second-year center Austin Reiter returning to practice after suffering injuries last season, the line appears to be pretty well established.

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