Journeyman center Anthony Fabiano is back with the Cleveland Browns as the team’s backup center to JC Tretter.
Reason the Browns signed OL Anthony Fabiano for a third stint with team: With the injuries to Chris Hubbard and Nick Harris, and with Javon Patterson on practice squad Covid-reserve, they didn't have a backup center.
— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) January 6, 2021
The Browns announced that they signed him and activated linebacker B.J. Goodson.
The injuries to the offensive line forced the Browns to bring Fabiano back for his third stint in his Cleveland.
The Wakefield, Massachusetts native went to Harvard, but he went undrafted in 2016 due to a foot injury.
According to the SPARQ (Speed, Power, Agility, Reaction, and Quickness) formula, Fabiano was the 2016 NFL Draft’s most athletic offensive lineman.
His rookie season began on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, but it ended with the Browns.
He played four games and started one of those contests as an injury replacement in 2016 for Hue Jackson’s Browns.
Then in 2017, he played five games, one of which he started, for the Jacoby Brissett-led Indianapolis Colts.
The following year, Fabiano made his way back to Cleveland for a short period:
- Claimed off waivers in May 2018
- Waived in August 2018
Fabiano was then on the practice squad for the Eagles, Buccaneers, and Packers.
In December 2020, Green Bay released him, and he was then available for the Browns playoff roster.
Fabiano is Back with Cleveland, Once Again as a Backup
Browns fans hope that Tretter will be able to play all the snaps at center again in the Divisional Round.
Although he recently battled a knee injury, he was a full participant in practice and does not carry an injury designation.
For the fourth consecutive season, Tretter topped 1,000 snaps as the team’s starter.
He has not missed a game during his four-year Browns tenure.
He also played eight snaps on special teams in the Wild Card Round, and that mark matched his most in a game with the Browns.
For the time being, Fabiano will be helping out on special teams as well.
As one of Cleveland’s three backup offensive linemen, he played four snaps on special teams for the Browns in the victory over the Steelers:
The Browns three backup offensive linemen Sunday night:
Kendall Lamm
Blake Hance
Anthony Fabiano#Steelers— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) January 11, 2021
Fabiano’s connection to Harvard may have made him appealing to general manager Andrew Berry.
The Harvard Crimson synergy is apparent within the Browns organization.
With the recent addition of OL Anthony Fabiano, that makes 6⃣ Harvard football grads with the @Browns organization. #CrimInTheNFL https://t.co/ncOzCuqkR6
— Harvard Football (@HarvardFootball) January 10, 2021
The best-case scenario for the Divisional Round contest is that Tretter plays at least 60 snaps yet again.
However, having Fabiano as a backup will be nice insurance for a Browns team that will need a balanced offensive attack against the Chiefs.
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