Browns sign Watford; Gonzalez wins kicking job

The Cleveland Browns signed offensive lineman Earl Watford and made a decision on their kicker on Tuesday.

The team waived kicker Ross Martin, meaning incumbent Zane Gonzalez won the job.

Watford, 28, was released by the Chicago Bears on Sunday after joining the team as a free agent in April. He started 21 games over the last three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, including nine in 2017 and 10 in 2016, while playing both guard spots and right tackle.

The Browns drafted Gonzalez, 23, in the seventh round last year, but he made just 15 of 20 field-goal attempts as a rookie, including two misses from inside 40 yards and two more from 40-49 yards. He made his only attempt this preseason, from 54 yards, and went 3-for-3 on PATs.

Martin, 25, made his only field-goal attempt this preseason, a 31-yarder, and his only PAT, while taking three kickoffs (two for touchbacks). He has yet to play in an NFL game since going undrafted out of Duke in 2016, having spent the last two offseasons with the New York Jets before getting cut.

Cleveland also waived wideout Evan Berry, offensive linemen Kevin Bowen and Geoff Gray and defensive lineman Marcell Frazier while releasing tight end Julian Allen from injured reserve.

Meanwhile, starting safety Damarious Randall is not expected to miss regular-season action despite seeking a second opinion on his knee injury Tuesday, according to coach Hue Jackson.

Randall had his knee tighten up during pregame warmups ahead of the Browns' Thursday preseason game, and he was held out as a precaution.

"We gave him the opportunity to go see someone that he knew," Jackson told reporters of Randall seeing a specialist. "He went to go make sure that everything checked out. I think that he is going to be fine. He will be back here and ready to go and practicing when he gets back."

The Browns acquired Randall from the Green Bay Packers in March in a deal that included quarterback DeShone Kizer and a swap of fourth- and fifth-round picks. A former first-round pick of the Packers in 2015, Randall started 30 games at cornerback through three seasons but will play safety for the Browns, the position he played in college.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)