JoJo Natson, the dynamic returner who spent the past two seasons with the Rams, signed last week with the Browns.
Here are five things to know about the speedy returner.
1. Natson has been in the NFL since 2017, when he entered the league as an undrafted free agent. He spent his first training camp/preseason with the Indianapolis Colts but did not make the 53-man roster when it came time to make final cuts. He joined the Jets' practice squad at the start of that season and found his way onto the active roster by the midpoint. He caught two passes for 18 yards while serving as the Jets' primary returner on kicks and punts. Natson was waived in April 2018 and signed with the Rams shortly before their 2018 training camp. That's where he stuck for two seasons before joining the Browns.
2. Natson hasn't played an offensive snap since his season with the Jets. That's how valuable he was to the Rams as a return man. In 2018, Natson appeared in 13 games and averaged 10.8 yards on punt returns and 18 yards on the six kicks he was able to return. This past season, Natson saw a decrease in his punt return average (7.8 yards per return) but was much better on kicks (22.2). A hamstring injury ended Natson's 2019 season at Week 13.
Check out photos of wide receiver JoJo Natson
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) acknowledges the fans while walking off the field after an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Utah State wide receiver JoJo Natson (9) catches a 44 yard touchdown as Wake Forest linebacker Hunter Williams (30) defends during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) swap jerseys following an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. The Steelers won 17-12. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) is hit by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Pharoh Cooper (12) on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) during an NFL regular season football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019 Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys won, 44-21. (Tom Hauck via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) fields a punt during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, in Cleveland. Los Angeles won 20-13. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) carries the football during the first half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) returns a kick during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019 in Los Angeles. The 49ers defeated the Rams 20-7. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) takes the field for warmups before an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019. (AP Photo/Don Wright)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) during an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) catches the ball on a punt return during NFL Super Bowl 53 against the New England Patriots on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019. Patriots won 13-3. (Peter Read Miller via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Austin Proehl (87) walk down the tunnel before an NFL preseason football game against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2019 in Oakland, Calif. The Raiders won, 14-3. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Los Angeles Rams receiver JoJo Natson runs with a punt return against the New Orleans Saints during a NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019 in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Saints, 27-9. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) runs a route during an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Broncos, 10-6. (Ryan Kang via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) celebrates a victory during the NFC championship NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019 in New Orleans (Margaret Bowles via AP)
Los Angeles Rams players celebrate with the NFC Championship trophy inside the locker room after overtime of the NFC championship NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in New Orleans. The Rams defeated the Saints, 26-23. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New York Jets tight end JoJo Natson (87) is hit by Cody Latimer (14) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30), wide receiver JoJo Natson (19), wide receiver Josh Reynolds (83), and cornerback Sam Shields (37) celebrate with teammates after their win in an NFL divisional football playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Jacob Gonzalez via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) runs onto the field prior to an NFL divisional football playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) returns a kick during an NFL Week 8 game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018, in Los Angeles. The Rams defeated the Packers 29-27. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver JoJo Natson (19) carries the ball against the Detroit Lions during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)
Utah State's JoJo Natson (9) gives UTEP's Adrian James, right, a shove during the second half of the New Mexico Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in Albuquerque, N.M. Utah State defeated UTEP 21-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Utah State wide receiver JoJo Natson (9) catches a pass as Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson (9) defends during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)
Utah State wide receiver JoJo Natson (9) runs past Wake Forest linebacker Brandon Chubb (48) during an NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in Logan, Utah. (AP Photo/Eli Lucero)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver JoJo Natson, left, catches a pass as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Bene Benwikere (23) defends during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver JoJo Natson plays against the Detroit Lions during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Sunday, Aug. 13, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Utah State's JoJo Natson (9) is forced out of bounds by UTEP's Wesley Miller (13) during the second half of the New Mexico Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014, in Albuquerque, N.M. Utah State defeated UTEP 21-6. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Indianapolis Colts receiver JoJo Natson makes a catch during the NFL team's football practice in Indianapolis, Tuesday, June 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
3. Natson drew some high praise from Browns special teams coordinator Mike Priefer during the buildup to Cleveland's Week 3 matchup against the Rams last season. "He is terrifying," Priefer said. "He is really quick. He is the fastest guy on the field. He is fearless for a little guy. When I was in Minnesota, we played at the Rams last year on a Thursday night and he was injured prior to the Sunday night. I do not like anybody getting hurt, but I am glad we did not have to face him. Unfortunately, we will have to face him on Sunday night. He has now become their dual returner so he is dangerous on both punts and kickoffs. He poses a big-time threat because you can't be out of control at the point of attack or you are going to miss him. I told our guys in the meeting today that he can make you miss in a phone booth. He is that quick. We have to do a great job of surrounding him, throttling down, being under control and making a play."
4. Natson grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and attended Utah State for the first part of his college career. He was at his best there during his junior season, when he earned first-team Mountain West honors as a punt returner. With an average of 11.7 yards per return, he ranked first in the conference and 10th in the nation while tying for third in the nation with two punt returns for touchdowns. He ranked 11th all-time in school history with 127 receptions when he was dismissed from the team for a violation of team rules. With one year of eligibility remaining, Natson transferred to Akron, where he excelled as a receiver. Natson caught 59 passes for 837 yards and 10 touchdowns and added two more touchdowns on punt returns. He earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors as a punt returner and second-team as a receiver.
5. In a Q&A with TheRams.com, Natson revealed how his success as a small player on a football field surrounded by giants has inspired others. "I guarantee you if I was 6-foot-4, 200 pounds coming out of high school, I probably would've gone to Alabama," Natson said. "I would've been a five-star recruit with the talent I have. That just wasn't my calling that God put on me. I just had to deal with it. I think it's actually good on my behalf because I get Instagram DMs from guys who say, 'You're motivating me. I'm a small guy.' I was once in their position. 'Man, there's no way I'm going Division 1; no way I'm going to get a shot in the NFL.' But you just got to keep grinding. Make it hard on people to accept you. After a while, they're going to have to respect you."
