The Cleveland Browns released defensive tackle Phil Taylor on Tuesday, according to the team's website.
"Given depth in room we knew we'd have to make difficult choices," head coach Mike Pettine said of cutting Taylor, per Mary Kay Cabot of Northeast Ohio Media Group. "We felt it was the right decision."
He added that Taylor's guaranteed $5.47 million contract wasn't a factor in cutting the veteran defensive tackle, per Cabot, and that Taylor's knee—which has required two surgeries—is "not yet 100 percent," though Pettine said the defensive tackle "is well on his way to recovery.