The Washington Commanders have signed free agent wide receiver Noah Brown, one day after he was released by the Houston Texans, with the Pittsburgh Steelers still standing pat at the wide receiver position.
Brown was released by the Texans on Tuesday to alleviate a roster crunch at the position. Houston had also apparently considered trading former second-round pick John Metchie III to help clear space in a stacked wide receivers room, but instead released Brown.
As a veteran, Brown did not need to clear waivers and was free to sign with any team he wanted to. The Commanders were in search of wide receiver depth after trading former first-round draft pick Jahan Dotson to the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this month.
Brown, 28, is a 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver, and is known as a solid blocker and has been a special teamer, all things the Steelers have been lacking in their group of wide receivers.
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Brown spent the 2023 season in Houston and re-signed with the Texans on a one-year contract for 2024, but was released after the Texans added Stefon Diggs and others to their receivers room this offseason.
Last season with Houston, Brown played in 10 games and made seven starts. He caught 33 of 55 targets for 567 yards and two touchdowns. He had similar production in 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys, when he played in 16 games and caught 43 of 74 passes for 555 yards and three touchdowns. He was tied for second among Cowboys receivers in targets in 2022 and was fourth among Texans receivers in 2024.
The Steelers had been interested in trading for Metchie or Denver Broncos wide receiver Tim Patrick before cut-down day, but ended up not adding a receiver in the cut-down process. Patrick agreed to sign with the Detroit Lions late on Tuesday. It does not appear that Metchie will be traded now that the Texans released Brown.
The Steelers continue to be involved in the pursuit of San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whose hold-in continued on Wednesday, now just 10 days away from the regular season opener.