Brady Christensen, Deonte Brown working for future roles

Christensen has been part of the rotation most of the year, while sixth-rounder Deonte Brown has taken a different path.

He’s played one snap of offense this year, and was inactive last week, though Rhule said they hope to see him in some capacity this week against the Buccaneers.

Brown said that even though he hasn’t played much this year (and a midseason knee injury slowed him a bit), he’s confident that he can fit in here.

“Honestly, I learned that I do belong here, if that makes sense,” Brown said of the lessons of his rookie year. “I think that’s been one of the biggest challenges I’ve had personally, is believing I can play and play at a high level, and play good. I’ve got more and more confidence in my ability to play and be good.”

Brown talked about the challenges of playing as a reserve after a decorated career at Alabama, but he’s also learning how to move differently. Brown came to the Senior Bowl at 364 pounds, and he’s worked to get himself to the 335 range over the course of the season. He talked about his “weight-loss journey,” and said he sees no downside to being smaller now.

“I feel more powerful, more explosive, so I really haven’t had no complaints,” he said. “There are no disadvantages. The only thing it’s done has helped me. I feel like I can sustain blocks better. I am able to perform athletic moves better, and for a longer period of time.

“That was my biggest thing coming in was sustaining what I can do throughout the whole game, and not just in spurts.”

Brown also knows that as he competes for playing time, versatility can only help him. He said he wants to spend some time this offseason learning to play center as well.

Neither he nor Christensen can know at the moment where they’ll fit in next year, and until the dust settles on what is expected to be a busy offseason at their position, no one can.