Roster

Safety Nick Sorensen signed a three-year contract with the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday. Sorensen, who excelled on special teams last season after joining Cleveland, played in nine games with the Browns in 2007. The 29-year-old ranked fifth on the team with 14 special-teams tackles, making a season-high four in a win over Baltimore on Nov. 18. "Nick joined us midseason last year and did an excellent job on special teams and also provided veteran leadership," Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "He will be a part of our core special teams unit and serve as a quality backup safety." An eight-year veteran, Sorensen has also played for St. Louis and Jacksonville.

Browns DB Brodney Pool had three tackles, an interception and a half-sack Sunday at Baltimore.

The Browns and FB Charles Ali agreed to a one-year deal, the team announced Thursday.

Cleveland rookie DB Eric Wright and three other Browns starters missed practice Wednesday with knee injuries. Wright sprained his right knee on his first play in Sunday's overtime win at Baltimore and could miss significant time. He was helped off the field and carted to the locker room for treatment. Wright underwent an MRI exam earlier this week, but Browns coach Romeo Crennel, taking a page from former boss Bill Belichick, was tight-lipped when asked about the player's condition or his chances of playing this week against Houston. Earlier this week, Browns play-by-play announcer Jim Donovan reported the team expected Wright to miss four to six weeks. If Wright can't play, Daven Holly likely will start in his place. Holly started 12 games last season and three this year. DL Shaun Smith and DL Ethan Kelly also missed practice with knee problems.

Browns LB Leon Williams appeared in all 16 games in 2007 with nine starts. He had career-highs in sacks (four) and tackles (85, with 63 solo).

Browns coach Romeo Crennel told the Canton Repository on Monday that QB Brady Quinn will eventually be a good player. For now, he's the backup behind Derek Anderson. "He is a little bit more cerebral," Crennel said of Quinn. "He's got some leadership qualities. Guys seem to follow him. I think we have a good combination there. They work very well together. Brady envisions himself being the starter at some point in the future. When that's gonna be, I'm not exactly sure. But I tell Brady once a week, 'You're one play away, son,' and he understands that. It's hard to keep quarterbacks on their feet for 16 games. If you've got two good ones, you're better off. We feel like we're in good position at the quarterback spot."

Notable inactives for the Chargers-Broncos Week 5 game include: Chargers QB Charlie Whitehurst (No. 3/emergency QB), CB Paul Oliver, FB Andrew Pinnock, FB/WR Legedu Naanee, LB Anthony Waters, TE Jeff Chandler and WR Eric Parker. For the Broncos, DB Hamza Abdullah, RB Mike Bell, DB Steve Cargile, TE Stephen Alexander, WR Javon Walker, DT Antwan Burton and DE Simeon Rice are inactive.

Browns DL Robaire Smith started all 16 games in 2007 and finished with 55 tackles (41 solo) with four sacks. This was Smith's first year with Cleveland after stints with Houston and Tennessee.

The Browns' list of inactives for Week 14 at the Jets includes QB Ken Dorsey, DB Ricardo Colclough, DB Kenny Wright, WR Travis Wilson, LB David McMillan and DL Louis Leonard.

Browns WR Tim Carter appeared in 16 games in his first year in Cleveland in 2007 and finished with eight catches for 117 yards and one touchdown. Carter came to the Browns after five seasons with the Giants.

The Lions traded Shaun Rogers to the Browns for cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round pick in the April draft. The deal was announced Saturday by the Lions, a day after a trade with Cincinnati fell through that would have shipped the talented but inconsistent defensive tackle to the Bengals in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks.

The Cleveland Browns on Monday released the following players: K Jesse Ainsworth, DB Therrian Fontenot, DL Orien Harris, WR Mike Mason, WR Kendrick Mosley, TE Buck Ortega, WR Efrem Hill, FB JR Niklos, DB Justin Sandy and DL Alvin Smith.

Cleveland kicker Phil Dawson made 26-of-30 field goals in 2007 with a long of 51. He also made 42-of-43 extra points. Dawson benefited from the Browns offense becoming a force in 2007.

ESPN reports that Browns backup TE Steve Heiden had surgery to repair a bulging disc in his back, according to his agent. He is expected to attend training camp assuming his rehab goes well.

Back - Questionable for the start of 2008 training camp

Cleveland nose tackle Ted Washington's season ended Wednesday when the Browns placed the massive 17-year veteran on injured reserve. Washington began the season as a starter, but was inactive for two games as Ethan Kelly started in the 39-year-old's spot. The Browns said Washington has an injured left knee. "Ted has been working through some knee issues that finally have caught up to him," Browns coach Romeo Crennel said in a statement. "We appreciate his effort to this point and know he will continue to help us any way he can in going forward."

Browns QB Ken Dorsey (3rd QB), DB Ricardo Colclough, DL Ethan Kelley, WR Travis Wilson and DL Orpheus Roye have all been listed as inactive for Week 13 at Arizona.

Browns TE Darnell Dinkins appeared in 15 games in 2007 and finished with one catch for 8 yards and no touchdowns. Dinkins is the third tight end for Cleveland behind Kellen Winslow and Steve Heiden.

The Cleveland Browns signed RB Chris Barclay, TE Jonny Harline, DB Tim Mixon, DL Chase Pittman, DL Melila Purcell, WR Steve Sanders and WR Syndric Steptoe to the practice squad Monday. Six of the eight players (Barclay, Louis, Pittman, Purcell, Sanders and Steptoe) were with the Browns during training camp, including three 2007 draft choices (Purcell, Pittman and Steptoe). Harline is an undrafted rookie free agent out of Brigham Young who spent training camp with the Indianapolis Colts. Mixon is an undrafted rookie free agent out of California who spent training camp with the Chicago Bears.

Notable inactives from the 49ers-Browns Week 17 game include: 49ers QBs Shaun Hill and Trent Dilfer, DB Marcus Hudson, CB Shawntae Spencer, LB Derek M. Smith, DL Damane Duckett, DL Atiyyah Ellison and WR Jason Hill. For the Browns, DL Orpheus Roye, LB Antwan Peek, DB Ricardo Colclough, DL Melila Purcell, WR Travis Wilson and QB Ken Dorsey.