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Browns add to Linebackers Room, Signing Krys Barnes to Practice Squad
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- Browns add to Linebackers Room, Signing Krys Barnes to Practice Squad
The Cleveland Browns were busy tweaking the practice squad again on Tuesday, as the organization has added linebacker Krys Barnes . It was the second time the Browns have signed a player formerly of the Carolina Panthers , which just so happens to be the team's Week 3 opponent for the home opener at Huntington Bank Field.
In a corresponding move, the Browns placed linebacker Nathaniel Watson on the practice squad injured list due to a knee injury. He is not eligible to be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for four games, as a result of the injury designation.
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Krys Barnes has Plenty of NFL Experience
Barnes failed to make the Washington Commanders roster in training camp, and he was waived on Aug. 30, as the team pared down its roster. He never appeared in a game in Washington, but he has plenty of NFL experience.
Barnes last appeared in the NFL with the Panthers in 2025, playing seven games, while racking up six solo tackles and a total of 23 stops with a half-sack and two stuffs.
We've signed LB Krys Barnes to the practice squad and placed LB Nathaniel Watson on practice squad/injured
📰 » https://t.co/wMIWd97ibz pic.twitter.com/t7IvT95l6T— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 22, 2026
Prior to that, he played two full seasons with the Arizona Cardinals , appearing in 33 games, recording 54 solo tackles, 90 total stops, two sacks and his only previous NFL interception, which was returned 46 yards. He was also credited with six passes defensed, and 7.5 stuffs. His two sacks were a single-season career high, set in 2024, while his lone interception came in 2023.
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He was originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA by the Green Bay Packers in 2020, playing a total of 35 games across three seasons, including 16 games in 2021. He had one sack in each of his first three seasons with the Packers, while registering 106 solo tackles and 161 total stops in his first two NFL campaigns there. He also recorded his lone forced fumble in his rookie season of 2020, while posting his only two career fumble recoveries in 2021.
Barnes could be a valuable addition to the 53-man roster at some point. In 75 NFL games with three different teams, he has 183 solo tackles, 303 total stops, 5.5 sacks, a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, an interception and 20 total stuffs across parts of seven seasons.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
