Gary Brightwell - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Reverts to practice squad Brightwell reverted to the Bengals' practice squad Friday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Impact Brightwell played six snaps on special teams in Thursday night's win over the Ravens and returned three kickoffs for 59 yards. He's now appeared in two games for Cincinnati this season.

NOVEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated for Thanksgiving Day The Bengals elevated Brightwell from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Thursday night's game against the Ravens.

Impact With Tahj Brooks (concussion) ruled out for Thursday's game, Brightwell will serve as the Bengals' RB3 behind Chase Brown and Samaje Perine. Brightwell played six snaps on special teams during the Bengals' Week 12 loss to the Patriots, when his lone return on a kickoff was returned for 24 yards.

NOVEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Back with practice squad Brightwell reverted to the Bengals' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Impact Brightwell was elevated to the active roster ahead of Sunday's 26-20 loss to the Patriots, playing six snaps on special teams, including a 24-yard kickoff return. Fellow running back Tahj Brooks (concussion) has been ruled out for Week 13 already, while Samaje Perine (ankle) was estimated to be a full participant at the team's walkthrough Monday. Brightwell can be elevated two more times before the team would have to officially sign him to the active roster.

NOVEMBER 25 • ROTOWIRE

Elevated off practice squad Brightwell was elevated from the Bengals' practice squad Saturday.

Impact Brightwell has been on Cincinnati's practice squad since August. He is expected to play a depth role for the Bengals in Week 12 as fellow running back Samaje Perine is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Patriots. The 26-year-old will play behind starter Chase Brown and Tahj Brooks.

NOVEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE

Joins Cincy's practice squad Brightwell signed with Cincinnati's practice squad Wednesday.

Impact Brightwell remains with the Bengals as organizational depth after passing through waivers unclaimed. He or fellow practice squad running back Kendall Milton would presumably be next in line for opportunities should injuries befall any of the three running backs on Cincinnati's 53-man roster.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Cut by Cincinnati The Bengals released Brightwell on Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell opted to stay in Cincinnati on a futures contract in January after finishing the 2024 regular season on the team's practice squad. He entered training camp gunning for a depth backfield spot on the Bengals' 53-man roster, but he wasn't able to separate himself from the competition after logging nine carries for 31 yards while adding a nine-yard catch and 93 yards on three kickoff returns. The 2021 sixth-rounder will look to catch on with a team in need of a running back who can also serve on special teams.

AUGUST 27 • ROTOWIRE

Staying in Cincinnati The Bengals signed Brightwell to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell began the 2024 regular season on the Browns' active roster, playing in Week 3 and 4 and posting 36 kick return yards while contributing exclusively on special teams. He was cut from Cleveland's active roster Oct. 1, and after two separate stints on the Browns' practice squad, he opted to sign with the Bengals' practice squad Nov. 11. He didn't end up playing for Cincinnati during the regular season, but he will be part of the Bengals' 90-man roster once the league year starts March 12.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Joins Bengals' practice squad Cincinnati signed Brightwell to its practice squad Monday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Impact Less than two weeks after being cut from the Browns' practice squad, Brightwell has now found another opportunity with their division rival. The Bengals currently have four running backs on their active roster, so it would probably take at least one injury for him to see any game action during the second half of the season.

NOVEMBER 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cut from practice squad again The Browns cut Brightwell from the practice squad Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell has bounced on and off Cleveland's practice squad with regularity this season. He's also suited up for two games with the team, contributing exclusively on special-teams in both contests. Brightwell may realistically be a candidate to resurface on the practice squad again in the future.

OCTOBER 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Re-signed to practice squad The Browns re-signed Brightwell to the practice squad Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell takes the spot of Sebastian Gutierrez, who Cleveland cut from the practice squad in a corresponding move. A fourth-year pro, Brightwell played a role on special teams for the Browns in Week 3 and Week 4.

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Let go from practice squad The Browns cut Brightwell from the practice squad Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell's departure from the practice squad opens up a spot for wide receiver James Proche. Brightwell was signed to the Browns' active roster Sept. 21 to provide backfield depth behind Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman. However, Brightwell was limited to a special teams role in Week 3 and 4, and he was let go from the 53-man roster Oct. 1. The 2021 sixth-round pick will explore his options and attempt to catch on with a team in need of backfield depth and special teams experience.

OCTOBER 15, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Signed to practice squad The Browns signed Brightwell to the practice squad Thursday.

Impact Brightwell cut Brightwell from the active roster Wednesday, but he wasted little time before resurfacing with the team. The special-teams ace could be a candidate for elevation Sunday against the Commanders.

OCTOBER 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Time up in Cleveland The Browns cut Brightwell from the 53-man roster Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Impact Brightwell spent the last two games contributing exclusively on special teams for Cleveland. He returned two kickoffs for 36 yards during the team's 20-16 loss to the Raiders on Sunday. Now, Brightwell will hope to either resurface on the Browns' practice squad or secure a depth role elsewhere in the league.

OCTOBER 1, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Continues special teams role Brightwell returned two kickoffs for 36 yards in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Raiders.

Impact Brightwell was active for a second straight game but has not played on offense yet. He was the main kick returner for the Giants in 2022 and could fill that role with the Browns until injured running backs Nick Chubb (knee) or Nyheim Hines (knee) return.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Signed to active roster The Browns signed Brightwell from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.

Impact With Nick Chubb (knee) and Nyheim Hines (knee) starting the regular season on injured reserve and Pierre Strong (hamstring) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Giants, the Browns have signed Brightwell to the active roster. Brightwell could get some looks on kickoff return Sunday while serving as the No. 3 running back behind Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman. Brightwell appeared in seven regular-season games for the Giants in 2023, during which he turned nine carries into 19 yards and added five catches (on seven targets) for 47 yards.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Gets chance with Cleveland Brightwell signed with the Browns' practice squad Thursday, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Impact Brightwell spent camp with the Jaguars after losing his spot with the Giants, but he was unable to make the team's final roster. He'll now get a chance to work his way up to Cleveland's 53-man roster, which is currently dealing with multiple injuries at running back.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Comes up short Brightwell was waived by the Jaguars on Tuesday.

Impact Brightwell had his time with the Giants end due to a hamstring injury in June, but eventually found his way to Jacksonville in early August. However, the Arizona product was unable to force his way up the team's positional depth charts and secure a spot on their final 53-man roster.

AUGUST 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Headed to Duval The Jaguars signed Brightwell to a contract Saturday.

Impact Brightwell appeared in seven regular-season games with the Giants in 2023, registering 66 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches while playing 39 snaps on offense and 99 on special teams. He sustained a hamstring injury in Week 7 against the Commanders and ended the season on the IR. He reached an injury settlement with the Giants in June, and he'll now compete for a depth running back spot on the Jaguars behind Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby.

AUGUST 3, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Hosted for tryout by New England Brightwell (hamstring) visited the Patriots for a tryout Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Brightwell reached an injury settlement with the Giants back in June, and he now looks fully recovered from his hamstring injury. The 2021 sixth-round pick could be a fit for New England, given his ability to shore up backfield depth while also contributing on special teams.

JULY 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Waived by Giants Brightwell (hamstring) was waived by the Giants with an injury designation Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Impact Brightwell ended the 2023 season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, but it's unclear if that's the issue he's currently dealing with. He has rushed 41 times for 164 yards and a touchdown and has caught 11 passes for 92 yards through 37 games with the Giants. If the running back clears waivers, he'll revert to IR, where he'd be slated to remain unless he reaches an injury settlement.

MAY 30, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Giants sign DB Elijah Riley; RB Gary Brightwell waived/injured Riley, 6-0 and 205 pounds, has made seven starts in 30 career games for the Eagles (2020-21), Jets (2021), and Steelers (2022-23).

MAY 30, 2024 • GIANTS.COM

Ends season on IR Brightwell (hamstring) played in seven games during the regular season, rushing nine times for 19 yards and adding five catches on seven targets for 47 yards.

Impact Most of Brightwell's work came on special teams, though he did get four carries in both Week 3 and Week 4 while Saquon Barkley was out with an injury. Brightwell didn't do much with those opportunities, and he had only one carry over his other five contests combined. The third-year pro's campaign came to a halt after suffering an ankle injury that eventually landed him on IR, and though he was designated to return ahead of Week 16, New York didn't end up activating him. The Giants' running-back room is in flux heading into the offseason, with Barkley and veteran Matt Breida set to be free agents. Brightwell, 2023 rookie Eric Gray and Jashaun Corbin are New York's three RBs currently under contract for next year, with Gray the most likely of the three to take on a lead-back role if Barkley doesn't return and the team doesn't add a starting-caliber replacement.

JANUARY 11, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to practice Brightwell (hamstring) practiced in full Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Impact Brightwell was designated to return from IR on Wednesday, and Thursday marked his first full practice with the team since suffering a hamstring injury Week 7 against the Commanders. The 24-year-old could return Monday against the Eagles, but considering the amount of time the Arizona product has missed, the Giants may wait until Week 17 against the Rams to bring Brightwell back into the fold.

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Giants sign WR Gunner Olszewski to active roster; RB Gary Brightwell to IR The New York Giants made the following moves heading into their Week 8 matchup with the New York Jets.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • GIANTS.COM

Headed to IR The Giants placed Brightwell (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

Impact Brightwell sustained a hamstring injury in Week 7 against the Commanders. He'll now have to sit out for at least the next four games and will be eligible to return against the Patriots on Nov. 26. Jashaun Corbin and Deon Jackson are set to take on backfield depth roles behind Saquon Barkley and Matt Breida.

OCTOBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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