BALTIMORE, Maryland -- Browns receiver Rashard Higgins didn't need much motivation to perform the way he did on Sunday.

"I told myself I didn't want to get cut anymore," Higgins said.

He was even more blunt about it a few minutes later.

"That was the worst thing ever," Higgins said. "I don't want that to happen again."

It's hard to imagine that will happen anytime soon following a seven-catch, 95-yard performance. To put it in perspective, Higgins had six catches and 77 yards during his entire rookie season in 2016.

Higgins made the 53-man roster initially this year, but he was waived the following day when the Browns made five waiver claims, including two wide receivers. He was added to the practice squad two days later.

The Browns chose Higgins for Sunday's game over Kasen Williams and Reggie Davis, the two wide receivers they claimed the day they waived him.

"I just worked my ass off to get back on the 53-man roster and I prayed upon to and it came," Higgins said.

"He made some plays," head coach Hue Jackson said. "That's why we elevated him. I needed him."

Higgins was targeted 11 times on Sunday and might have scored his first career touchdown on one of them had rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer made a better throw on a pass from the Ravens' 7-yard line that was intercepted by Lardarius Webb.

"Rashard was open," Jackson said, "and (Kizer will) be the first to tell you he threw a bad ball."

Higgins performance came on a day when the rest of the Browns' receivers struggled. Kenny Britt was targeted just twice, catching one pass for 2 yards. Corey Coleman caught one pass on seven targets for 9 yards.

On top of that, having Higgins allowed running back Duke Johnson, who also plays in the slot and lined up there almost exclusively against Pittsburgh, to play more of his normal position.

"It allowed Duke to go back and do some things in the backfield for us," Jackson said. "I think that combination was good."

Higgins said that he knew there was a chance he could get elevated early in the week, but he didn't know for sure until they brought him in on Saturday morning to sign the papers. He paused momentarily when answering a question about whether he considered looking for other opportunities instead of signing with to the practice squad.

"People upstairs still believed in me," Higgins said. "I appreciate everybody for that. When I was on the (practice) squad I worked every day like I was on the 53."

His performance comes at a particularly important time for himself and the team. Coleman hurt his hand Sunday and the Browns fear it could be broken. With Britt struggling, they need someone to step up at receiver. Maybe, as unlikely as it might have sounded a few days ago, that someone could be Higgins.

Not that he needs any extra motivation.

"I don't want to be cut no more," he said.

He sent that message on the field Sunday.

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