CLEVELAND — Belly-rubbing Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II is hungry for a comeback.
An aspiring NFL front office executive known for caressing his abdomen to celebrate key plays , Hurst is attempting to rebound from an injury again.
Hurst said Tuesday he would like his recovery and rehabilitation from a surgically repaired torn pectoral muscle to result in him returning to the Browns .
"It's definitely a special spot. I've been lucky to be at a few great spots," Hurst said backstage during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
"Being here with the guys that we have in the room that we have and the coaches that we have, it's really something that you can tell that we're building, that we could be the team that wins it all at some point."
From Hurst's perspective, the secret sauce to the 2023 Browns becoming "special" lies in General Manager Andrew Berry collecting players who are willing to sacrifice for each other without complaining or creating much drama.
Hurst proved to be one of those selfless guys for the Browns , who went 11-7, including 0-1 in the playoffs, after Berry signed him in March to a one-year, $1.24 million contract as an unrestricted free agent.
In 13 games, Hurst compiled 22 tackles, including 1.5 sacks, five quarterback hits, a fumble recovery, three passes defensed and an interception. His season ended when he suffered the torn pec on Dec. 10 in a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars , costing him the final five games, including a 45-14 wild-card playoff loss in Houston .
"Mo was excellent. Not just the acrobatic [interception] he was able to make in the Seattle game, but he really embodied what we wanted in an attack front throughout the entire year," Berry said backstage during the Greater Cleveland Sports Awards . "And as you all probably got a sense of, Mo's a big personality. He's great for the locker room. He really jelled with the group, so we couldn't be more pleased with the season that he had up until the injury."
Asked whether Hurst could fit into the category of players Berry has repeatedly re-signed to one-year deals, the GM said, "He could. He absolutely could."
Hurst, 28, said his rehab is ahead of schedule and he expects to "be ready by March, April."
NFL rules state the Browns will be permitted to begin their voluntary offseason workout program on April 15.
Another important date will occur roughly a month earlier when NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. March 13.
Hurst spoke as if he may test the open market, but he emphasized his desire to re-sign with the Browns.
"Definitely always a discussion is in the air about returning, and then it's just trying to see how things sort of play out these next couple months, see how things fall, see what their draft plans are, see what their free-agency plans are, see where the money's at," said Hurst, who's listed as 6 feet, 2 inches and 290 pounds.
Hurst entered the NFL in 2018 when the Oakland Raiders drafted him in the fifth round (140th overall) out of the University of Michigan. He joked about "Wolverine blood" coursing through his veins and aiding the process of returning to full strength.
In a much more serious tone, Hurst insisted his love of football is motivating him to complete another comeback.
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A torn biceps wiped out his entire 2022 season and a calf injury ended his 2021 season after he appeared in just two games. He suffered those injuries as a member of the San Francisco 49ers .
"I just generally love the game of football," he said when asked what is driving him to continue playing. "It's something that I've always had a passion for since I was a kid, and I've always wanted to be the best.
"Knowing that I have the ability to do that and being able to show that within a season and just getting comfortable and having [recent] film now, it's something [I hope to] really build on. But, yeah, football is amazing. It's something that I want to do once I'm done playing and something that is always going to be a special part of my life."
Hurst clarified his goal is to eventually work in a team's front office. For now, he can be found on a path toward resuming his career on the field.
Browns represented in awards season: Myles Garrett, Kevin Stefanski, Joe Flacco and Jim Schwartz are among the finalists to receive notable NFL honors
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Maurice Hurst II hopes to re-sign with Browns upon comeback
