Raiders Sign LB Preston Brown

WR/KR Dwayne Brown Placed on Reserve/Injured List to Open Roster Spot

by Tom LaMarre

The Oakland Raiders signed free agent linebacker Preston Brown, released recently by the Cincinnati Bengals, the Raiders announced on Monday.

To make room for Brown on the roster, wide receiver-kick kick returner Dwayne Harris, who had a 99-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Denver Broncos last season, was placed on the Reserve/Injured List because of a foot injury.

The 6-1, 251-pound Brown believes he will fit in quickly with the Raiders because defensive coordinator Paul Guenther’s system is similar to the one employed in Cincinnati, where Guenther was defensive coordinator from 2014-17.

“I have a lot of the terminology down already, so it’s just a matter of getting back," the 27-year-old Brown said. “I’m excited about it. It’s really cool, especially coming from an 0-9, now 0-10 team. There’s a lot more life, a lot more energy over here. That’s fun to be around.”

Brown was selected out of Louisville by the Buffalo in the third round (71st overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft and spent four seasons with the Bills before signing as a free agent with the Bengals before last season.

A Cincinnati native, Brown has started 77 of the 80 games he has played in six NFL seasons, and has been credited with 598 tackles (341 solo), one sack, five interceptions including one returned for a touchdown, 14 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

Last season, Brown started seven games for the Bengals before being placed on the Reserve/Injured List for the remainder of the season because of a knee injury. He recorded at least 100 tackles in each of the four previous seasons, including a career-high 144 in 2017.

“He had three straight 100 tackle seasons as a Buffalo Bill, went to Cincinnati and things didn’t work out,” coach Jon Gruden told reporters. “He has intangibles that you look for in a middle linebacker. He’s charismatic, he’s an intelligent, physical guy. Football junkie. He’s been productive in this league.

“We’ll put him in the room with (linebackers coach David) Lippencott and Guenther, see if he can get caught up quickly and we’ll try and fast-track him.”

In four seasons at Louisville, Brown started 37 of the 52 games he played, recording 301 tackles, including 26 for losses, seven sacks, one interception, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.