CLEVELAND (AP) — Brian Hoyer is coming home to play for the first team he ever loved.

Hoyer, who grew up rooting for the Browns and starred at Cleveland’s Saint Ignatius High School, signed a two-year contract on Friday, adding veteran experience to a troublesome position.

Hoyer agreed to the deal last Thursday but had to pass a physical before it could be finalized. Hoyer was released earlier this week by the Arizona Cardinals.

“Brian brings experience and a solid reputation to our squad,” Browns coach Rob Chudzinski said in a release. “We are looking forward to getting him out on the field.”

Hoyer will compete for a backup job with the Browns, who expect Brandon Weeden to beat out Jason Campbell to be the starter. Hoyer will get his chance to work his way up the depth chart, but he has a long climb.

Hoyer was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and spent three seasons backing up Tom Brady. He was briefly with Pittsburgh before he was claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. He appeared in Arizona’s final two games last season, completing 30 of 53 passes for 330 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Hoyer’s arrival likely will impact third-stringer Thaddeus Lewis, who started Cleveland’s season finale against Pittsburgh after Weeden and Colt McCoy got hurt.

Hoyer will be on the field this week as the Browns continue their first organized team activities (OTAs) under Chudzinski.