Injury to Alabama’s McClellan Leads Falcons to Sign UAB’s Spencer Brown

Spencer Brown, a former standout at UAB, has found his way back onto an NFL roster following an injury to ex-Alabama running back Jase McClellan during his debut pro game with the Atlanta Falcons.

Falcons head coach Raheem Morris addressed the situation on Monday morning, referring to the team's 20-13 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins. “We’ve got some players limited from the game, just a few dings and bruises,” Morris explained. “Jase is among those limited today, so we decided to bring in Spencer Brown.”

McClellan, a sixth-round pick by Atlanta in the April 27 NFL Draft, had a solid 2023 season with Alabama, rushing for 890 yards and eight touchdowns on 180 carries, and adding 137 yards on 15 receptions. In his first preseason game on Friday night, McClellan led the Falcons with 30 yards on nine carries and contributed two receptions for 13 yards over 26 offensive snaps and two special-teams plays.

Brown's journey back to the NFL comes after a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers, where he re-signed on January 8. However, an injury led to his release on May 15, ending his three-season tenure with the Panthers. During his time with Carolina, Brown primarily served on the practice squad, appearing in three games and recording 43 rushing yards on nine attempts and 10 receiving yards on two catches in regular-season play.

Brown’s football roots trace back to his high school days at Mortimer Jordan, where he earned first-team All-State honors in 2015. He later became a key player for UAB, rushing for 1,329 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017 and 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018.

The Falcons are set to continue their preseason campaign with a game against the Baltimore Ravens at 11 a.m. on Saturday.