Cleveland Browns sign A.J. Oullette, waive Ka'John Armstrong to combat running back shortfall
The Cleveland Browns have signed running back A.J. Oullette and waived offensive tackle Ka'John Armstrong. The move was in response to the fact the Browns are down a couple running backs in Duke Johnson and Kareem Hunt dealing with a hamstring and groin issue respectively. They don't want to have Nick Chubb and Dontrell Hilliard subjected to an unusually high amount of reps and hits just to get through practice.
Freddie Kitchens said he expects to get someone back from injury sooner than later, but in the mean time, they need someone now to get them through practices. It might as well be someone talented enough to potentially make a team.
Ka'John Armstrong is a reasonably athletic offensive tackle prospect. Maybe someone else will grab him, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Browns are able to get him back later if they want.
A.J. Oullette, Ohio
Age: 23 (Born July 12, 1995)
Height: 5-9.375*
Weight: 208 lbs
40-Yard Dash: 4.5s
Broad Jump: 117″
Vertical Jump: 36″
3-cone: 6.87s
Shuttle: 4.09s
Bench: 32 reps
Production: 1,518 total yards (25 percent) in 2018. 216 carries for 1,306 yards, 21 receptions for 212 yards, 14 total touchdowns.
Oullette is an athletic tailback that had a productive final season for the Ohio Bobcats. Based on the resume he put together, he was someone that could have easily been drafted. His profile suggests someone that could be a worthwhile NFL player.
Oullette is a short back with a low center of gravity that looks thicker than his weight suggests. He has good explosiveness, speed and agility for the position, can do some blocking as well as make plays with the ball in his hands as a runner and pass catcher.
His odds for being good enough to make the Browns roster seem long, but it's not impossible that he could make a convincing enough case to make the team. More likely, he's auditioning for the other 31 teams and depending on how long he's here, he could show more than enough to become a waiver claim when the Browns do opt to move on.
Oullette is a talented running back out of the MAC, which is where Kareem Hunt came from. Certainly, there was far more fanfare for Hunt coming out of college, but he also had high production and a good athletic profile coming out of college. Oullette may not be long for the Browns, but he certainly won't be the worst player they'd be cutting as they cut down to their final roster.
