Rex Sunahara was all set to break down stages at the House of Blues in Cleveland to earn some spending money. Then his phone rang. The Browns needed a long snapper because Charley Hughlett suffered a rib injury in the Oct. 6 game against the Commanders. The injury was serious enough for them to put Hughlett on injured reserve. Reaching out to Sunahara was an easy decision for general manager Andrew Berry because Sunahara — who played 20 games snapping for the San Antonio Brahmas in the XFL — was the long snapper for the Browns in all three of their preseason games this summer while Hughlett was hobbled by an ankle injury. Getting to the Browns’ training facility quickly is easy for Sunahara because his Bay Village home is 11 miles from Berea. Sunahara is a graduate of Bay High School. Rex Sunahara of Bay Village, 28, is about to play his first NFL game as the #Browns long snapper Sunday against the Eagles because Charley Hughlett is on injured reserve. pic.twitter.com/CHbIO0PIyw — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) October 10, 2024 “I love Bay Village,” Sunahara said in the Browns’ locker room before practice Oct. 10. “That’s my home. My best friends are all from there. Best football team in the state — Bay Rockets — so it’s great.” And about that career-changing phone call … “Before I got this call, I was actually going to start breaking down stages at the House of Blues,” Sunahara said. “I just got hired to do that. My first day was supposed to be today. But I think it’s a little bit better first day being here. “We were going to do that and try to make a little cash, but I’m happy to be here and helping this team.” Sunahara turned 28 on Oct. 9. He is not the oldest rookie ever to play in the NFL. That distinction belongs to Ben Graham. Graham was 31 when he made his debut as a punter for the Jets in 2005. But Sunahara never let go of his dream to play in games that count at football’s highest level. “Luckily enough, I played 20 games of professional football in the XFL,” Sunahara said. “The NFL is a different beast and I’m just excited to have the opportunity to show what I can do.” Sunahara played football and was a basketball walk-on at the University of Rhode Island after graduating from Bay. After one season with the Rhode Island Rams, he transferred to West Virginia and made the Mountaineers football team as a walk-on long snapper. Sunahara was signed as an undrafted rookie by the Miami Dolphins in 2020 and cut during training camp. He signed with the Steelers practice squad on Dec. 8, 2021, and was waived in May 2022. He played for the Brahmas in 2022, signed with the Steelers a second time in June 2023, was cut in training camp and played for the Brahmas in 2024. His contract with the Brahmas was terminated on Aug. 8, just in time for him to fill Hughlett’s spot in preseason. “It’s helpful that (Sunahara) was here during the preseason,” special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said. “We got a lot of work throughout training camp in the field goal and punt operation, so the familiarity with Rex and our system is good for him. We’re preparing for Rex to be able to handle this game.” Sanuhara knew his summer job with the Browns would only be temporary, but he expects his time working with kicker Dustin Hopkins and punter Corey Bojorquez in August will pay dividends when the Browns face the Eagles on Oct. 13 in Philadelphia. Home games against the Bengals, Ravens and Chargers are next. “It’s extremely valuable,” Sanuhara said. “In our world, timing and comfortability is such a big thing. Being with them, even in the limited time I was here, we can just pick it right back up and we’re good to go. Hopefully, we’ll be firing on all cylinders when we get to game day and it will be good.” Even after being cut by the Browns in August, Sanuhara did not get discouraged. He said he and Hunter Niswander, the punter from the XFL Houston Roughnecks, would meet up at St. Ignatius High School “two or three times a week” to keep their skills sharp. Niswander is from Chagrin Falls. Injury report Cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring), safety Grant Delpit (concussion), safety Ronnie Hickman (ankle), center Ethan Pocic (knee, ankle) and offensive tackle James Hudson did not practice with the Browns on Oct. 10. … Cornerback Tony Brown was signed to the 53-man roster from the practice squad — an indication the doctors and trainers don’t expect Ward to heal in time to face the Eagles. Browns at Eagles When: 1 p.m., Oct. 13 Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Records: Browns 1-4, Eagles 2-2 TV: WJW Radio: WKRK-FM 92.3, WNCX-FM 98.5, WKNR-AM 850, WKKY-FM 104.7