RANDALLSTOWN, Md. - Former James Madison University standout Daniel Brown endured most of last season on the practice squad of the Baltimore Ravens, spending his rookie year in the National Football League as a human pinball after being released or put on waivers and then re-signed more than once.

Finally, in late November, he made the 53-man squad for the first time and played in six NFL games at the end of last season for the Ravens, who were a disappointing 5-11 overall.

“It felt like a long time coming,” said Brown, 24, after a morning workout here Wednesday at the Ravens facility in Baltimore County. “You are up and down; you are out to show coaches you can play. I was putting in a lot of work. It was a relief to know hard work had paid off.”

Brown has more work to do this preseason with the Ravens, who re-signed him earlier this year with the understanding that the Windsor product would switch from wide receiver to tight end.

“I have gotten positive feedback,” Brown said. “Coaches have told me it is not the easiest thing to change positions in the offseason. Going from wide receiver to tight end, it is more physical. I have tried not to get too bummed out [after a bad play]. I just try to move on to the next play.”

Does he think he can make the team?

“I don’t try to focus too much on making the team,” Brown said. “We have a lot of talent in our room. I am more focused on changing positions and getting film, not just for this team but for the rest of the league.”

That means if Brown would be let go by the Ravens he would hope to sign on with another team, even as a practice squad player.

“I would hope so. That is what the preseason is for. There are 31 [other] teams looking at film,” he said.

A lot has been made around the NFL of teams not using veterans in preseason games. But that can be a blessing for young players such as Brown.

“It is good for me. We have had a couple of injuries to our older guys, our starters. I get good work and I get good game film. I need all of the reps that I can [having] changed positions,” he said.

The Ravens camp is filled with several tight ends, including veterans Benjamin Watson, Dennis Pitta and Crockett Gilmore. Watson is in his 13th year, Pitta is in his seventh and Gilmore is in his third.

Other tight ends on the roster as of Wednesday were Darren Waller, in his second year out of Georgia Tech; Nick Boyle, in his second year out of Delaware; and Maxx Williams, in his second year out of Minnesota.

Brown said all of them can be helpful in learning the position.

“Dennis kind of plays the way I would like to play. Crockett is a great run blocker. Watson is just wise,” said Brown, who lived with fellow CAA product Boyle last season a few minutes from the team’s training facility.

Brown doesn’t have to go far with the Ravens to find other ties to the CAA.

The veteran quarterback for Baltimore is Joe Flacco, the former Delaware star. A third-year running back for the Ravens is former Towson standout Terrance West and cornerback Kyle Arrington is in his eighth year out of Hofstra, which dropped its program in 2009.

Brown has four catches for 24 yards in the preseason this year for the Ravens, who host the Detroit Lions on Saturday, Aug. 27 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.

Brown played in 39 games, with 21 starts, for JMU and had 91 catches in his career for 1,450 yards for an average of 15.9 yards per catch and 17 touchdowns. As a senior in 2014 he had 42 catches for 606 yards and seven touchdowns.

He helped Isle of Wight Academy win three straight state titles from 2005-07. Brown was first-team all-state and all-conference as a high school senior in 2009 and also played baseball and basketball in high school.

Brown signed with the Ravens as a free agent on May 12, 2015. After a few stints on the practice squad he was added to the 53-man roster last Nov. 30.

Brown played in six games, with one start, last year for Baltimore and had six catches for 64 yards.

He had five catches for 47 yards, including a 31-yard play, in his first start on Dec. 13, 2015 against Seattle. Brown had his first NFL catch for 17 yards in the fourth quarter against Miami on Dec. 6 and played on special teams and from scrimmage in his first NFL game in a 33-27 win at Cleveland on Nov. 30.

Brown had a touchdown called back in one game last year for the Ravens.

“I think [the official] got it backwards. I think he got it backwards,” Ravens head John Harbaugh said of first-year official Jabir Walker to reporters after that game. “He didn’t tell me that but based on what I’ve been told, I haven’t seen the play but I’ve been told by everybody that [a defender] pushed off and fell down and Dan Brown didn’t push him off at all. So he must have just got it backwards. He’s a rookie and he messed it up.”

Brown may be a long shot to make the 53-man roster but he is not deterred.

“They wouldn’t move me if they didn’t think I could do it. I have to use my quickness to my advantage,” Brown said. “I use my speed and technique against their force [on defense]. It is all about technique.”