The Cleveland Browns selected Anthony Schwartz in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft hoping the Auburn wide receiver’s speed would stretch the field for their offense.

Schwartz started his NFL career with three receptions for 69 yards in Cleveland’s 33-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 12, 2021, but he never reached either of those stats again in 24 more games with the Browns.

MORE NFL:

· DOLPHINS SIGN FORMER AUBURN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN FOR PRACTICE SQUAD

· ALABAMA ROOTS: NEW NAMES AMONG PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME NOMINEES

· MONDAY NIGHT: STEELERS OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS BEAT BROWNS

On Tuesday, Schwartz’s time in Cleveland ended with 14 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown to show for two seasons.

Cleveland waived Schwartz from its injured reserve on Tuesday.

When the Browns reduced their preseason roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players in August, they waived Schwartz. But because he had a hamstring problem, he carried an injury designation and reverted to Cleveland’s injured reserve when he went unclaimed on waivers.

Tuesday’s release gives Schwartz an opening to play in the 2023 season. Instead of spending the entire season on Cleveland’s injured reserve, he will be able to sign with another team when healthy now.

In three seasons at Auburn, Schwartz had 117 receptions for 1,433 yards and six touchdowns and ran for 323 yards and seven touchdowns on 42 carries.

As a rookie with Cleveland, Schwartz caught 10 passes for 135 yards and one touchdown, ran six times for 39 yards and returned 15 kickoffs for a 21.5-yard average. He was on the field for 295 offensive snaps and 52 special-teams plays in 14 games in 2021. He missed three games after sustaining a concussion on Nov. 14, 2021, during a 45-7 loss to the New England Patriots.

In 2022, Schwartz had played in 11 games and had four receptions for 51 yards and four rushing attempts for 57 yards and one touchdown when he sustained a concussion in a 27-14 victory over the Houston Texans on Dec. 4 and missed the final five games of the season on injured reserve. In his second NFL campaign, Schwartz was on the field for 107 offensive snaps and 88 special-teams plays.

FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.