Perrion Winfrey, whom the Browns cut in July amid legal issues, was signed to the Jets’ practice squad Tuesday.
The defensive lineman was accused of striking a woman in the neck outside of a hotel, where he also allegedly showed a handgun to the woman and her friend and took their phones, according to an ESPN report from July.
The woman had a “red abrasion” on her neck following the incident, the outlet reported.
Winfrey allegedly told the woman, who recognized him and called him a “p—y” when he didn’t respond, that he would “smack the s–t outta you.”
She started recording the exchange.
Winfrey wasn’t charged after the victim decided to not pursue legal action, according to Cleveland’s Fox 8, and Winfrey also told the outlet that he was innocent.
During an incident with his girlfriend in April, Winfrey was arrested on a misdemeanor assault charge and accused of causing “bodily injury,” according to TMZ.
The April dispute involved an argument over a dog and rental car keys, and the girlfriend reportedly told police that Winfrey had assaulted her in another prior incident, too.
The Browns said in a statement at the time that they were “aware of the situation and gathering more information.”
Winfrey’s charge was dismissed following a pretrial diversion program, according to ESPN.
Between those incidents, Winfrey was robbed at gunpoint alongside Browns defensive back Greg Newsome II outside a Cleveland nightclub in June.
The thieves took jewelry and stole Newsome’s truck, ESPN reported.
Winfrey was a fourth–round pick out of Oklahoma in the 2022 draft.
He appeared in 13 games last year for Cleveland, recording 22 combined tackles and two quarterback hits, but he also missed the Browns’ second game because of a disciplinary suspension.
Defensive lineman Bruce Hector was released by the Jets in a corresponding move to open the space on their practice squad.