Former Texas football QB Garrett Gilbert waived by the Browns

Former Texas football quarterback Garrett Gilbert was one of a few Longhorns that had a volatile weekend on the waiver wire in the NFL.

Yet another former Texas football player got the call that they would be released by their NFL team over the weekend, officially known on Sep. 5. One of the latest to have that known in the public eye is former SMU Mustangs and Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert. On Sep. 5, it was announced in an official team release that the Cleveland Browns would be waiving Gilbert ahead of the opening week of the 2020 NFL season.

The Browns in their latest round of roster cuts, to get the number down to 53 for their Sep. 13 season opener against the Baltimore Ravens, got rid of 24 players including Gilbert.

Other significant names that the Browns parted ways with over the weekend in this latest round of roster cuts included former Western Kentucky wide receiver Taywan Taylor, Charlotte running back Benny LeMay, Iowa State linebacker Willie Harvey, Oklahoma State cornerback A.J. Green, and Indiana defensive lineman Robert McCray.

But there is apparently the intention that the Browns have to sign Gilbert back as part of their practice squad. He was one of a few players that the Browns looked to be bringing back to the practice squad just a day after cutting them.

NFL journey of former Texas football QB Garrett Gilbert to date

The Browns originally signed Gilbert after he was cut by the Carolina Panthers back early in the 2019 offseason. Gilbert was selected by the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round (214th overall” in the 2014 NFL Draft.

He spent less than one year on the Rams roster before getting released and picked up by the New England Patriots in 2014. Since then, he’s also been rostered with the Oakland/Vegas Raiders, Detroit Lions, along with the previously mentioned Panthers and Browns.

The 29-year-old Buffalo, NY, native Gilbert has only taken part in a half dozen career games in the NFL. And he’s only had six passing attempts in his career to date in the regular season, only two of which he completed.

It does appear as if Gilbert will be getting another shot as an NFL quarterback on the Browns practice squad. He was one of the backups to former Texas Tech Red Raider and Oklahoma Sooner quarterback Baker Mayfield last year, but might be moving down the depth chart heading into the 2020 season.

During his five years playing in college between Texas and SMU, Gilbert registered just shy of 10,000 passing yards, 49 passing touchdowns, 45 interceptions, more than 1,000 rushing yards, and 20 rushing touchdowns. Somehow he is still salvaging some part of an NFL career although he hasn’t taken many game snaps at the next level.