Gary Brightwell had to endure more than half of Arizona’s school-record 20-game losing streak, so how much tougher could it be to play for a winless NFL team?
The former UA running back has been signed by the Cleveland Browns from its practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game home game against the New York Giants, the team that drafted him in 2021. He is one of two ex-Wildcat ball carriers to get elevated from the practice squad, as the Houston Texans did the same with JJ Taylor for their visit to the Minnesota Vikings.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound Brightwell spent his first three seasons with the Giants before signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason. He did not make the Jaguars’ 53-man roster and ended up on Cleveland’s practice squad, but an injury to backup RB Pierre Strong prompted the Browns to bring him up to join Jerome Ford and D’Onta Foreman in the backfield.
Brightwell appeared in 37 games for the Giants from 2021-23, rushing for 164 yards and a touchdown and catching 11 passes for 92 yards. With Cleveland he will join former UA teammate Tony Fields II, a cornerback who has been with the Browns since 2021.
For Taylor, he could be seeing his first NFL action in almost two years as Houston will be without Dameon Pierce and possibly Joe Mixon, who is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. The 5-foot-6, 185-pound Taylor was impressive during the preseason with the Texans but didn’t make the opening roster.
Taylor’s last NFL game was in 2022 when he appeared in one game with the New England Patriots. In 12 games over three seasons with New England he ran for 156 yards and two scores.