Browns Sign Ex-Steelers Linebacker

The Cleveland Browns have signed former Steelers linebacker Caleb Johnson on Wednesday, the team announced. Johnson was with Pittsburgh during the season but was released in October.

Johnson was just signed to the practice squad on Oct. 24 and he was with the team for only a few practices. An undrafted free agent out of Miami, Johnson joined the Jets this spring and played in four preseason games with New York, recording 13 tackles.

He was released in August and had not been with another team until the Steelers grabbed him. To replace Johnson, the Steelers then signed former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mykal Walker.

A 6-foot-1, 235-pound native of Murrieta, California, Johnson started his college career at Texas, where he redshirted one season. Then he transferred to Fullerton College before joining UCLA and then the Hurricanes. He played in two seasons with the Bruins and one in Coral Gables. In total, he recorded 137 tackles, 11 for a loss, seven sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three passes defended.

His best season came in 2020 at UCLA, when he had 44 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks an interception and a forced fumble. He now makes his fourth stop in the NFL by joining Cleveland.