What was one of the quietest rooms in the Cleveland Browns complex has suddenly drawn a crowd.
Andrew Berry signed another defensive tackle, adding 9-year veteran free agent Damion Square today.
Square spent the last 7 years with the Chargers and played in every game the past four seasons.
We've signed veteran DT Damion Square
Details » https://t.co/AhIAv3FY7K pic.twitter.com/fhunqsAzXz
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) May 4, 2021
He saw action in 10 games, plus the NFL Wild Card Game, as an undrafted rookie with the 2013 Eagles.
Philly included him in their final cuts in 2014 when the Chiefs picked him off waivers.
The then-San Diego Chargers claimed him off waivers in November from Kansas City.
Square bounced back and forth between the Chargers’ practice squad and the active roster for a few years.
Newly signed DT Damion Square spent 7 seasons with the #Chargers and hasn’t missed a game the last 4 seasons #Browns. pic.twitter.com/9m8KETynog
— MoreForYouCleveland (@MoreForYou_CLE) May 4, 2021
Despite his current playing streak, he only started 16 games, including 11 in a career year of 2018.
Over the years, he’s played on the inside and end of the defensive line, and brings special team experience, too.
In his mostly part-time role, Square accumulated 120 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 17 QB hits, and 6.5 sacks.
Square’s only multi-sack game came in 2016 when he took down Cleveland’s Robert Griffin III twice.
Despite Square’s effort, that was the Browns’ only victory during the first two seasons under Hue Jackson.
Where Does Square Fit In The Browns Defense?
Cleveland entered the NFL Draft weekend with only 4 tackles on the roster.
Andrew Billings, back from the Covid exemption list, and Malik Jackson were the presumed starters.
Cleveland signed Sheldon Day to help Jordan Elliott back up the starting duo.
https://twitter.com/_jayjon/status/1389642741794099202
Then Andrew Berry selected Ohio State defensive tackle Tommy Togiai in the third round.
And followed that up by offering a guaranteed contract to the highly-touted UDFA Marvin Wilson.
Berry then brought Malik McDowell into the fold as he tries to restart his NFL career.
Today’s addition of Damion Square puts 8 players in the defensive tackle room.
Talk about veteran leadership: #Chargers NT Damion Square SHOVES DT Jerry Tillery to the right spot on the PAT…and Tillery blocks it pic.twitter.com/pU5ukg0LnL
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) September 22, 2020
And that doesn’t take into account the possibility of playing Jadeveon Clowney inside at times.
If Togiai and Wilson meet expectations, Cleveland could have a difficult time sneaking them onto the practice squad.
With Billings coming back from a year off and Jackson coming in after an off-year, the situation can change.
But right now, it appears Square will enter a battle for a backup or rotational role.
And that battle will involve more players than most fans anticipated.
NEXT: Andrew Berry Confident Owusu-Koramoah Heart Not A Problem
