Tag: Browns training camp

Denzel Ward finds himself in dangerous, familiar territory again

Ward is in protocol after Monday’s practice

Cleveland Browns star cornerback Denzel Ward missed Wednesday’s joint practice with the Minnesota Vikings after getting up gingerly during Monday’s practice. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the star is in concussion protocol, and if he indeed has a concussion, that could be a major problem.

Ward has had several concussions over his career, both in college and the NFL, and it raises the question of whether there will come a point where he is forced to retire due to the accumulation of head injuries. The star was at practice and looked to be in good spirits, and this could be the team being cautious. We will have to wait and see for sure.

The team is deep at the position, but with Greg Newsome II out with a hamstring injury, you don’t want to see another guy go down at the position, especially a star like Ward.

The Browns will have their second joint practice with the Vikings on Thursday before a preseason game on Saturday.

One starting offensive lineman is getting closer to returning to the field

Wills could be close to a return

The Cleveland Browns’ left tackle position has been a major issue so far in training camp. The team has had James Hudson III out there for a significant number of snaps, and he isn’t the guy for that role.

But the team could be getting a boost as left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. worked out with medical personnel on Thursday after walkthroughs. The teams seemed early in the offseason that Wills would be good to start the regular season, but we have yet to see him on the field for practice.

Wills isn’t a superstar, but he’s significantly better than Hudson and would help the offense settle in. A little over three weeks remain until the Browns start the regular season against the Cowboys at home. Getting Wills and Jack Conklin back in time to prepare for that game would be a big boost for the Browns as they look for another win to start the year.

Browns DE Myles Garrett knows defense has room for improvement

The defense still has room for improvement

Last year, the Cleveland Browns had one of the best defenses in the NFL. Under first-year defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, the group was disruptive and, at times, lock down in the back end.

But reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett knows there are still areas for improvement for the group in 2024. While appearing on NFL Network this week, Garrett highlighted the team’s struggles in the red zone and how they often looked like a different group on the road compared to at home.

Other players and Jim Schwartz have also highlighted these things this offseason. Schwartz has talked about not being so predictable and adding change-ups to their arsenal to give offenses different looks and confuse them.

Garrett knows the group cannot rest on their reputation from last year and how none of that matters regarding the 2024 season; I expect the group to be just as good, if not better, this year.

Browns WR Elijah Moore leaves practice with possible concussion

Moore exits with possible head injury

Cleveland Browns fans are probably feeling some deja vu lately with the amount of injuries that keep happening at training camp practice. The latest injury occurred Friday after wide receiver Elijah Moore left practice and is now being evaluated for a possible concussion.

Moore has been turning heads in training camp, making people miss in the open field and hauling in some tight-window throws from quarterback Deshaun Watson. The team has brought in more competition at the position, but Moore has made his case to be in the top three or four target-getters this season.

Being this early in camp, this injury shouldn’t affect his ability to be ready for the season, but it will present some roster bubble guys with more chances to make the roster. David Bell and Michael Woods II are battling it out, and this injury could give them an opportunity to make their case until Moore makes it back.

Deshaun Watson gets day of rest in last Browns training camp practice at The Greenbrier

After throwing every day during Browns training camp to this point, quarterback Deshaun Watson gets a simulated rest day on Friday

After suffering a season-ending injury to his shoulder a year ago, quarterback Deshaun Watson back into action during Cleveland Browns training camp.

While he has had a stellar camp from the perspective of the media members at The Greenbrier in West Virginia, throwing on the first six days of training camp, the quarterback is taking today’s walkthrough practice to absorb some simulated reps while backups Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Tyler Huntley take the live reps.

There is reason to believe that Watson is 95 percent back given his training camp performances, and there is no reason to rush him through the process with a month to go until the season-opener at home against the Dallas Cowboys.

They will host the Green Bay Packers in one week from Saturday for their first game of the preseason. Watson, along with the majority of the starters, would be a surprise to suit up in this game as the Browns typically do not risk their significant players for most of the preseason.

It is likely we see Watson for a series or two this preseason, but probably not much more than that.

LB Tony Fields II seen in walking boot at Browns training camp

Fields will likely be sidelined for awhile

Training camp continued for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday with their first fully padded practice at The Greenbrier in West Virginia. During Thursday’s practice, young linebacker Tony Fields II was seen on the side in a walking boot.

Fields has been with the team since 2021, when he was selected in the fifth round of that year’s draft. He has struggled with injuries at times since being with the Browns and could be on the outside looking in when roster cuts happen at the end of the preseason.

He needed a strong camp to make the roster, and missing time will not help his case to stay on the 53-man roster. Over his time in Cleveland, he has played a total of 501 snaps and been a key part of special teams.

With Fields out that will give Nathaniel Watson and Mohamoud Diabate a chance to step up and try to secure roster spots for themselves.

Browns training camp: WR Jerry Jeudy practices for the first time

Jeudy got back on the field Thursday

The Cleveland Browns got their new talented wide receiver on the field for the first time during training camp on Thursday as Jerry Jeudy hit the field.

Jeudy had been working off to the side for all of camp with an injury but got back on the field. It’s always a good thing to get your best players back on the field so having Jeudy back is big for Cleveland.

With quarterback Deshaun Watson healthy and participating in every practice, getting his new target back on the field to work on their chemistry together is a must. On top of a new quarterback, Jeudy is in a new system, one that is different for everyone, so they need as many reps as possible.

Jeudy should help the offense significantly this year with his ability to create yardage after the catch, something the Browns struggled to do at times the last few seasons.

Cleveland had their first full padded practice with contact on Thursday as training camp continues.

Browns Podcast: Recapping week one of Cleveland Browns training camp

The first week of camp is in the books for the Browns

The 2024 season is close as the Cleveland Browns have wrapped up their first week of training camp. There have been several different headlines but one of the biggest is how sharp quarterback Deshaun Watson has looked. On top of that he hasn’t missed a practice working his way back from shoulder surgery.

David Njoku spoke with the media this week and expressed how excited he is for the team’s planned usage of him this year. He was the king of yards after catch at the position and the team clearly understands he needs to continue to get targets in 2024.

The preseason will be here in just over a week, and players like Michael Hall Jr. and Jamari Thrash could really turn some heads during those games. Most of the roster is set, but there are a handful of spots up for grabs, and the battle for those spots will be fun to watch.

You can hear more and these topics and others by clicking here and listening to our latest episode.

Even more awaits Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in Year 4

The young star could be in for even more responsibility in 2024

Last year was a true breakout season for young linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Kormoah with the Cleveland Browns.

As the season went on, he took on more and more responsibility and showed that he was up to the challenge. The team has been in talks with him about a contract extension, but they aren’t seeing eye-to-eye at this point.

Owusu-Koramoah has the skill to be the quarterback of the defense and wear the green dot moving forward. On Tuesday, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said he also believes the budding star can do that.

“Certainly you want to keep your best players on the field as much as possible and that’s up to Jeremiah in a lot of ways to be comfortable in those roles.”

If Owusu-Koramoah can be a guy who plays 100 percent of the snaps every down, the team will likely be willing to open the checkbook to keep him around.

Browns: Second year corner Cam Mitchell practices for the first time

A young defensive back practices for the first time

The Cleveland Browns got bad news last week after the team announced that cornerback Greg Newsome II would miss the start of camp with a hamstring injury. That injury raises questions about whether he will play in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

In addition, second-year corner Cam Mitchell has also been absent from practice with an injury, leaving the team thin at nickel corner. But the team got good news on Tuesday as Mitchell was able to return to practice for the first time since training camp started last week.

There is a good chance the team will need Mitchell to start the season opener, so it’s great for the team that he gets back on the field early as Newsome recovers.

Corner is a strength of this team, and Mitchell showed some flashes as a rookie and should be able to hold down the fort for a little bit until Newsome is cleared.