Playing for Browns a ‘dream come true’

Talk about detours. FirstEnergy Stadium is 14.5 miles from Lyndhurst, where tight end Pharaoh Brown played while at Brush High School. But to get to the Browns’ home stadium Brown first had to make stop at the University of Oregon for five years and then make a 15-month layover in Oakland.

And Brown still has one more stop to make before playing a game on the southern shore of Lake Erie. But at least he’s getting closer. Brown, elevated from the Browns practice squad on Oct. 23, is expected to be on the active roster Oct. 28 when the Browns play the Steelers at Heinz Field. It is as close to a must win for the 2-4-1 Browns as a team can get at the halfway mark of the season.

“Growing up with the Dawg Pound and seeing everything and being part of it now is really like a dream come true,” Brown said before practice Oct. 24. “We have a great young team. The future’s bright.

“I was talking to my mom about the Cavaliers’ (championship) parade. I said the city’s going to go way crazier once the Browns start winning. Just to be a part of it is awesome.”

Brown’s first chance to play a home game in a Browns uniform comes Nov. 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Meanwhile, he is one of five tight ends trying to convince the coaches he deserves playing time against the Steelers. The others are David Njoku, Darren Fells, Seth DeValve and Orson Charles.

Brown, 6-foot-6, 258 pounds, was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted rookie last year after catching 70 passes, 13 for touchdowns, at Oregon, where he graduated with a degree in journalism. He played in two games with the Raiders in 2017 and was waived on Sept. 1 when rosters were cut to 53.

“I was around some vets that had eight, nine 10 years in the league,” Brown said of his brief time with the Raiders. “Being able to go against Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin every day made me a better tight end. My time in Oakland was real valuable.”

Brown plays on all facets of special teams. He believes that will help him be in uniform instead of on the Heinz Field sideline inactive in street clothes.

“He’s athletic, he’s strong, he’s tough,” head coach Hue Jackson said. “He’s another long, big athlete we’re going to see if we can fit him in somewhere and give him a chance.

“We’re always trying to improve our special teams and will continue to do that. If he carves out a role on offense, then great. It means he’s doing better than some other guys. I like the guy a lot.”

Charles is labeled as a tight end, but is really a fullback, Jackson said. In that case Brown is really competing with only Fells and DeValve for playing time. Njoku is a clear starter.

Brown