Having landed one of the top running backs on this year’s free agent market in Ben Tate, the Browns have now secured a fullback to block for him. According to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, Cleveland has signed former Bengal Chris Pressley.
Pressley, 27, has been sidelined since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 15 of 2012. That knee still hadn’t healed in time for the 2013 season, so the fullback spent most of last year on the reserve/PUP list before being cut by Cincinnati in December.
Although Pressley has contributed a handful of receptions in parts of four seasons with the Bengals and Buccaneers, his real value comes as a blocker. In 2011, the Wisconsin alum saw a career-high 296 offensive snaps and ranked as Pro Football Focus’ sixth-best fullback (subscription required), primarily due to a well above average blocking grade.