ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — A familiar face is back in the fold — wide receiver John Brown signed to the Bills’ practice squad, returning for his second stint with Buffalo after spending 2019 and 2020 in Orchard Park.

“Oh, I was excited about it,” Brown said. “Definitely, when I got here it felt like home. When they were picking me up from the airport I thought I was going back to my house, so it was already home for me.”

Brown kept in touch with Bills wide receivers coach Chad Hall, and sent Hall some video of himself working out before having a tryout. The 32-year-old has been at home this season, but he’s finally feeling healthy again and ready to contribute. Mentally — he’s been there all along.

“If they needed me to play today I’ll be ready to play,” Brown said. “It’s already coming back to me. I always kept the plays. I kind of looked over them a little bit time after time. Even when I watch the game I called certainly plays out.”

Head coach Sean McDermott said they would see how Brown would acclimate to being in football shape after being away from the game this year.

“He would add to our team,” McDermott said. “He certainly has some speed and experience in the system. He’s played a lot of football in this league. It’s not going to be too big for him from that standpoint.”

Brown has not had a catch in the league since the Bills let him go two years ago. But he was productive when he was here, with more than a hundred grabs, 1,500 yards and nine touchdowns over two seasons.

“He was awesome for me,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “I believe he was my first 1,000-yard receiver there in my second year. Just a guy that showed me how guys should work in this league. He practices extremely hard.”

“I was happy to see him. Happy to have him back,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “I saw him out there running around. He looks smooth, looks good. Looks like the old Smoke so I look forward to him being out there real soon and getting active.”

While Brown’s teammates welcomed him back — it didn’t happen without a little abuse.

Brown said of his reunion with Diggs: “He hit me with the old jokes now, so I’ve got to take that.”

It remains to be seen if Brown can turn back the clock and make a difference in his return to Buffalo for a Bills team dealing with injuries at the receiver position.