Due to the restricted availability of running backs at Alabama, the Falcons have decided to recruit a ball-carrier from UAB.

Spencer Brown, a former UAB star, has rejoined an NFL roster following an injury to former Alabama running back Jase McClellan in his first professional game on Friday night. Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris mentioned on Monday morning that the team faced some injuries after their 20-13 preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins. “We have a few players who are dealing with bumps and bruises,” Morris said. “Jase is limited today, so we took the opportunity to sign Spencer Brown.”

McClellan, selected by Atlanta in the sixth round of the NFL Draft on April 27, had a notable college career with the Crimson Tide, rushing for 890 yards and eight touchdowns on 180 carries and catching 15 passes for 137 yards in 2023. In the Falcons’ first preseason game on Friday night, McClellan was the team’s leading rusher with 30 yards on nine carries. He also recorded two receptions for 13 yards while participating in 26 offensive snaps and two special-teams plays against the Dolphins.

Brown rejoined the Carolina Panthers on January 8 but was placed on injured reserve on May 13 and released two days later. This marked the end of his three-season stint with the Panthers, which began when he signed as an undrafted rookie on May 10, 2021.

During his time with the Carolina Panthers, Brown mostly occupied a spot on the practice squad. He appeared in just one game in 2021 and two games in 2022. In his NFL regular-season career, he has accumulated 43 yards on nine rushing attempts and 10 yards on two receptions.

Brown, a standout player at Mortimer Jordan in 2015, helped his team reach the AHSAA Class 5A championship game, though they lost 41-26 to St. Paul’s Episcopal. At UAB, he had impressive seasons, rushing for 1,329 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2017 and 1,227 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2018. The Falcons are scheduled to play their second of three preseason games at 11 a.m. on Saturday, facing off against the Baltimore Ravens.