The Browns cut veteran defensive lineman John Hughes as part of a series of roster moves announced Tuesday.
Hughes played in 53 games, starting 10, since being drafted in the third round in 2012. He was a healthy scratch last week and seemed to fall out of the team’s plans with the emergence of rookie defensive end Carl Nassib and with Hughes’ extended absence for personal reasons during training camp.
Hughes became the rare new-era Browns player to sign a second contract with the team when he signed a four-year extension prior to the 2015 season.
As a vested veteran, Hughes’ contract was terminated. He’ll become a free agent and isn’t subject to the league’s waiver system.
The Browns cut Hughes and rookie linebacker Scooby Wright to make room on the roster for quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and center Austin Reiter, both of whom are being added to address injury shortages.