Browns’ Higgins keeps expanding role in offense

BEREA, Ohio — Rashard Higgins has started just five games in his three seasons with the Cleveland Browns, but now he’s receiving a chance to carve out a prominent role for himself on an ultra-talented offense.

The elevated status of Higgins is one of the biggest surprises through the first three practices of training camp.

Instead of Antonio Callaway serving as the No. 3 receiver behind Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry as expected, it’s been Higgins. The Browns consider the third receiver on the depth chart a starter in today’s pass-happy NFL.

“I believe in myself,” Higgins said after Saturday’s practice, “and when an opportunity presents itself, I’ve got to make the most of it, and that’s what I’m going to do.”

This is a pivotal year for Higgins. Drafted in the fifth round out of Colorado State in 2016 by former Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown, Higgins lived through the anguish of a 1-31 record in his first two NFL seasons. Now the team is on the rise, and Higgins is in the final year of his contract. After signing his tender as a restricted free agent April 1, he’s scheduled to play this season on a salary of $2.025 million and then become an unrestricted free agent in March.

“I want to be here with my brothers,” Higgins said, “(but) I want to get paid, just like everybody else. If it’s with this organization, if it’s not, God works things out.

“Right now, I’m just worried about winning.”

Higgins has never been shy about sharing his lofty goals. Before his rookie season began, he told Browns beat writers that he wanted seven touchdowns in 2016.

He’s still working on it, with 72 receptions for 961 yards and six TDS in 44 games in three seasons. After he had 39 catches for 572 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last season (he missed three games because of a sprained knee ligament), seven TDS seems to be realistic for this year.

Higgins, 24, can be proud about resurrecting his career. The Browns cut him on Sept. 3, 2017. He wound up on the practice squad for 11 days and has used the experience as motivation ever since.

Browns sign former OU running back Ouellette

The Browns have three running backs currently injured at training camp, so they added a new back to the stable in A.J. Ouellette.

Ouellette, out of Ohio University, was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New Orleans Saints, who later waived him.

Information from Cleveland.com was included in this story.