The Browns are trimming down their defensive tackle and receiver depth in the middle of their offseason program.
The team announced Tuesday it was releasing defensive tackle Ben Stille and receiver Marquez Stevenson. The former was a mid-season addition to the active roster, while the latter was a mid-December addition to the practice squad.
The Browns will be holding rookie minicamp this weekend. They’re also in the second phase of the voluntary offseason program, which allows for small-group and individual on-field work.
Stile was picked off the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad last Nov. 15. He played in six games for the Browns last season, with three assisted tackles and one quarterback hit over 75 defensive snaps and one special-team snap.
The 25-year-old Stille was originally re-signed by the Browns as an exclusive-rights free agent on April 17. His release leaves the team with Dalvin Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott, Tommy Togiai, Siaki Ika, Roderick Perry II, Perrion Winfrey , Trysten Hill, Maurice Hurst Jr. and Michael Dwumfour at defensive tackle.
Ika was the Browns’ second third-round pick in last month’s NFL Draft. Tomlinson, Hurst and Hill were all signed during the first week of free agency in March.
Stevenson was signed to the practice squad last Dec. 14 after being released by the Buffalo Bills. He did not play in a game for the Browns over the final four weeks of the season.
The Browns’ receiving room features new additions Cedric Tillman (third-round draft), Elijah Moore (trade from New York Jets) and Marquise Goodwin (free agent). They join holdovers from either the active roster or practice squad: Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, David Bell, Michael Woods II (injured), Jaelon Darden, Jakeem Grant Sr., Anthony Schwartz, Daylen Baldwin, Mike Harley Jr. and Isaiah Weston.
Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns release defensive tackle Ben Stille, receiver Marquez Stevenson