BERRIER, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns are well into the second half of August with just a few practice days remaining before the team fully transitions out of training camp mode.
Their defense isn’t perfect, but it looked mostly dominant in two scrimmages with the Minnesota Vikings. Their offense is thriving with just one penalty and one short pass. No one is panicking yet, and with key starters in and out of the lineup and quarterback Deshaun Watson still recovering from shoulder surgery, a full judgement shouldn’t be made on three weeks of practice.
But no one is truly happy with the inconsistency or state of the offense. The Browns had their top receivers practice in full just once. Just once. Tight end David Njoku was the best offensive player in camp, but an unspecified injury limited him to just two practice sessions on Thursday. He was on the field the entire time, but Cleveland’s No. 1 receiver, Amari Cooper, limped inside just past the halfway mark.
Going deeper
On the first day of joint practice between the Browns and Vikings, both teams showed off some intense offense and defense.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski described both Njoku and Cooper as “sore,” but he’s not obligated to offer any further details about the injury situation or the offensive line.
The offensive line is down to injuries to both starters and reserves, and two of the team’s top three running backs have not practiced at all.
Watson was under pressure almost constantly against the Vikings. There were times, both against Minnesota and on regular camp days, when spectators wondered why Watson didn’t give up the ball sooner or complete consecutive passes. Watson’s first pass in a 7-on-7 game on Thursday was intercepted by Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. for what clearly should have been a touchdown.
Not every pass he throws is bad. In a goal-to-go situation on Thursday, Watson slipped past a defender and passed around another. Waiting in the back of the end zone was Jerry Jeudy, who dodged a Vikings defender and made the catch before another defender got close. Watson throws an impressive pass or two every day. But he also throws a lot of shaky passes.
Corner pocket dots go to @jerryjeudy @deshaunwatson | @OHLottery pic.twitter.com/yXMpDgWoMT
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 15, 2024
Construction Chemistry
Jeudy only participated in walk-throughs and individual workouts early in camp. It’s probably no coincidence that Watson’s best throwing day was Jeudy’s first full day. But after Jeudy impressed on Aug. 4 with both mid-range and long-range receptions, he missed another week with a recurrence of the lower-body issues that have slowed him all spring. Jeudy participated in both days of combined practice, and it’s clear the Browns need him, even if Cooper and N’Joku are OK to return next week.
“I think (their chemistry) is getting better. I think they’re doing a good job,” Stefanski said. “Jerry runs good routes and he’s quarterback-friendly. So it’s important for the quarterback to know all of his players intimately and understand the nuances of each one of them.”
“I think it all adds up and everything counts. Every practice that you show up to counts. So I think every day we’re just trying to fine-tune things.”
Watson said he is focused on improving communication with the offense and that the ups and downs during camp are natural but “not frustrating.” Watson also said he’s not worried about his shoulder injury or the hits it’s taking so far into the season.
“I feel really good,” Watson said. “Every day is a test of strength, stamina and the work that I’ve put in every day since the surgery. We’re on the right pace, on the right track. And if we weren’t on track with the process, I wouldn’t be pitching every day.”
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He’s everywhere
For two days, it felt like nearly every dropback from Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was disrupted by Browns defensive end Myles Garrett. Garrett didn’t participate in the Browns’ first seven practices, but he did mess up at least a few plays for Cleveland’s No. 1 offense in his first few days back. Garrett can play on both sides and sometimes inside, too. Opponents can double-team him and contain him, and it’s rarely an issue.
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year is in top form and ready to lead one of the league’s best defenses again in a bid to win back-to-back championships. On Thursday, Darnold was pressured at least twice before completing a dropback, but it wasn’t by Garrett. The pressure came from a blitz by linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who just signed a three-year contract extension.
The Browns are currently playing without two of their top three cornerbacks: three-time Pro Bowl selection Denzel Ward is in concussion protocol but watched most of Thursday’s practice from the sideline, and Greg Newsome II is rehabbing a hamstring injury and hopes to return in time for the season opener.
The Browns defense is loaded with older guys who need to stay healthy, they have three linebackers who are dealing with injuries but are expected to see at least some playing time, and they’ve had to rotate defensive linemen because of injuries, but this defense is talented and has the depth to be really good once the season gets going.
It was a fun day 😮💨
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 15, 2024
Next, young people
There were full practices and extended special teams sessions on both days, but only each team’s No. 1 and No. 2 offenses and defenses had live practice. The Browns were short on offensive line and defensive back seven and did not have a full third unit, but the plan was to have regular players work out in a controlled practice environment and then have young players and reserves play in Saturday’s preseason game.
Stefanski said second-year quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start Saturday and that no starters will play. Thompson-Robinson was the third player behind Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley last week, but the Browns have indicated they will ultimately decide between Thompson-Robinson and Huntley for the third quarterback spot.
Thompson Robinson pitched well last week and made some impressive throws in camp despite limited game opportunities. Rookie slot cornerback Miles Harden has been so good in camp that he took the field in a dime defensive package with Cleveland’s starters during Minnesota’s one-minute drill to end practice Thursday. Second-year cornerback Kalef Haracey, who intercepted Darnold’s pass on Thursday, also had an interception on fourth down to end the series.
On the Fly
Stefanski said earlier this week that “the plan” was to have Watson play a little in the preseason finale at Seattle. The quarterback seemed a little surprised when Stefanski said that when Watson met with reporters on Thursday, but he said the coach had communicated the plan to Watson, saying “we communicate a lot” and that Watson’s surprise was down to him “just being focused on what’s in front of me.”
It’s been a long summer and a long two and a half years for everyone.
The ideal scenario for Cleveland would be to have Watson play some kind of action during the preseason, as he hasn’t played in a game since November. Stefanski said Watson hasn’t had contact in a controlled training environment, but he has been cleared for contact, so the best “plan” would be to have him play just two or three series in Seattle as part of a final preparation.
They proved adaptable last year, even if injuries at other positions forced Stefanski and the Browns to deviate from their plans. With the offense struggling, what matters most is that the coaching staff and Watson make the most of the remaining practices as Cleveland continues to transition from camp mode to regular season mode.
“The most important thing about preseason games is … operations,” Watson said. With teams limited practice times and only running basic plays, the focus is on the huddle, pre-snap adjustments and getting everyone in the right position. That’s why Watson and Stefanski have been so committed to joint practices, but that process could extend into the preseason series.
“When you step on the field, you’ve got to perform,” Watson said. “You’ve got to play.”
(Myles Garrett photo by Sue Oglocki/Associated Press)
