Former Notre Dame center Braxston Cave signs with Washington

Braxston Cave never saw the 72 hours of limbo coming.

A happy landing took the sting out of it.

The Penn High product and former starting center for the Notre Dame football team signed with the Washington Redskins Tuesday as a member of the team’s practice squad, three days after getting cut by the New England Patriots.

“I feel like I had a good preseason, so it was surprising (getting cut) from that standpoint,” Cave told the South Bend Tribune via telephone from Washington. “But one thing you learn quickly is you’re always replaceable. That’s the way it works. You adapt and move on.

“Washington flew me out last night, I worked out for them this (Tuesday) morning and signed right after that.”

While Cave’s fiancée, Natalie Minnix, shops for a more permanent residence than a hotel, Cave will take a crash course with the playbook before starting practice Wednesday morning.

The Redskins open the season Sunday at Houston. Cave’s former practice rival, former Irish nose guard Louis Nix, is a rookie with the Texans.

The 25-year-old Cave originally signed with Cleveland as an undrafted free agent after finishing a career with the Irish that included 35 starts and third-team All-America honors for the Associated Press (in 2012).

Cleveland released him on Aug. 30, 2013, but the Patriots picked him up two days later and signed him to their practice squad. He remained with New England until Saturday.

“My agent was talking to a lot of teams,” Cave said. “Washington was the first one to offer. I figured let’s go come out and work out. I haven’t had the opportunity to meet many people yet. It just seemed like a good opportunity, a fresh start.”