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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Taking part in 11-on-11s
Fri, Jul 26, 2024, 11:15 AM
Watson (shoulder) is participating in 11-on-11 drills at Friday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Watson is taking 11-on-11 reps for the first time since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery, though he did participate in 7-on-7 activities during spring. Coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday a decision hasn't yet been made on Watson potentially suiting up for any of Cleveland's three preseason games, but it doesn't appear that the 28-year-old quarterback is dealing with limitations at practice any longer. For the time being, Watson is commanding a thin first-team offense, with Jerry Jeudy (leg) and David Njoku (undisclosed) both limited to work on the side due to seemingly minor injuries, and Nick Chubb (knee) having started camp on the PUP list as he works his way back from a pair of surgeries. |
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David Njoku David Njoku Working on side
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 6:52 PM
Njoku worked on the side during Thursday's practice with an undisclosed injury, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: There's nothing to indicate the nature of the injury or if this was merely a veteran getting an easy day. Njoku looks to build off a breakout campaign in 2023, when he had career highs in targets (123), catches (81), yards (882) and touchdowns (six). Competition for targets will be even greater in 2024 with Jerry Jeudy (leg) added to the roster. |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Dealing with leg issue
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 6:47 PM
Jeudy worked on the side during Thursday's practice due to a leg issue, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: It's unclear if the leg is the same issue that forced Jeudy to miss time during June's minicamp. The injury does not appear to be a serious. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Preseason participation unknown
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 6:42 PM
Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday that he was unsure whether Watson (shoulder) would appear in any of the Browns' three preseason games, Patrick Warren of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Watson, who had offseason shoulder surgery, has been throwing in camp, but the coach is being extra cautious at this stage. Stefanski said the coaching staff will discuss the quarterback's progress and make any playing decisions at the appropriate time. |
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Jerome Ford Jerome Ford Misses practice Thursday
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 6:35 PM
Ford missed Thursday's practice due to a personal matter, Patrick Warren of the Browns' official site reports.
Analysis: Ford is expected to return to camp Friday. With Nick Chubb (knee) on the active/physically unable to perform list and Nyheim Hines (knee) on the active/non-football injury list, Ford will be first in the running back line for drills once he's back. |
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Elijah Moore Elijah Moore Focused on WR
Thu, Jul 25, 2024, 8:35 AM
The Browns will have Moore focus his preparation as a wide receiver after last season's hybrid role didn't work out, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Analysis: In 2023, the team used Moore out of the backfield in addition to his duties as a wide receiver, but the coaches eventually abandoned the idea. He lined up 23 times in the backfield over the first five games (eight carries, 11 yards) then just six times over the final 12 games. It was clear the hybrid role hurt his production as both a runner and receiver. Moore enters 2024 re-energized and looking to become part of a productive wideout room that includes Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy. He'll compete with Cedric Tillman to become the primary third wideout. |
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Nyheim Hines Nyheim Hines Placed on NFI list
Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 11:09 AM
The Browns placed Hines (knee) on the active/non-football injury list Wednesday.
Analysis: Hines said earlier this offseason that he anticipated being ready for training camp, so it's possible he won't spend much time on the NFI list before passing his physical. The pass-catching specialist is working his way back from a left ACL tear suffered last August, and once healthy, he'll compete for a role as a return man and third-down back. Nick Chubb (knee) started camp on the active/PUP list and remains without a timetable for return, so Hines could have a real opportunity alongside Jerome Ford and D'Onta Foreman in the Cleveland backfield, health permitting. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Officially shifts to PUP list
Wed, Jul 24, 2024, 11:04 AM
The Browns placed Chubb (knee) on the active/PUP list Wednesday.
Analysis: Chubb can be activated at any point throughout training camp or the preseason once he passes a physical and is deemed ready to practice. The 28-year-old running back is working his way back from a severe left knee injury, which included two separate surgeries to repair his MCL and ACL. Chubb has made encouraging progress in his workouts this offseason and is expected to be healthy and available for game action at some point during the 2024 campaign, but an exact timetable for his return remains uncertain. In the meantime, Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong should handle the bulk of backfield reps at practice, with Nyheim Hines (knee) also working his way back from the active/non-football injury list. |
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Amari Cooper Amari Cooper Gets deal restructured
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 2:19 PM
Cooper reported to training camp Tuesday after agreeing to a restructured deal with the Browns, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Per Cabot, Cooper is in line to get $5 million in new incentives as part of the deal, while his $20 million base salary is now guaranteed. With the agreement to amend the final year of his contract now in place, Cooper is set to reclaim his role as the top option in a Cleveland wideout corps that features newcomer Jerry Jeudy and returnees Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman and David Bell. |
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Jerome Ford Jerome Ford Role depends on RB injuries
Tue, Jul 23, 2024, 7:17 AM
Ford's preseason and regular-season roles will depend on the health statuses of his injured teammates, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: With Nick Chubb (knee) still recovering from knee surgery during the offseason, Ford handled first-team reps in spring workouts, and he likely heads into training camp as the lead back. The Browns could apply injury designations to Chubb and Nyheim Hines (knee) at the beginning of camp, which would cement Ford in the top spot for now. He could keep the job into the regular season if Chubb winds up on the reserve-PUP list, which would require him to miss at least the first four games of the schedule. Ford's role should sort itself out over the coming weeks. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Throwing daily without setbacks
Wed, Jul 17, 2024, 3:29 PM
Watson (shoulder) said Wednesday he's been throwing daily, including with teammate Amari Cooper, as part of his rehab process, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Watson declined to say whether he's been fully cleared for training camp, but it's encouraging to hear that he's been able to move through his rehab program without setbacks. He missed all but six games in 2023 and underwent surgery last November to repair a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder. The outlook of Cleveland's passing attack for 2024 depends not only on Watson's health, but also the presence of Cooper, who is negotiating a new contract. Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp in June, and at this point, his full attendance at camp isn't a total guarantee, so it's a positive that he and Watson are already working on developing more of a rapport. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb Encouraging workout progress
Mon, Jul 15, 2024, 12:17 PM
Chubb (knee) was shown in a video posted Monday to his documentary film's Instagram account handling two squat reps of what appears to be 558 pounds, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Analysis: Chubb didn't do any on-field work during OTAs or minicamp and declined to put a timetable on his return back in June, but the four-time Pro Bowler continues to make progress in his recovery with the start of training camp approaching, as veterans report for Cleveland on July 23. The 28-year-old suffered a season-ending ACL, MCL and meniscus knee injury in Week 2 last year, requiring separate surgeries to repair his MCL on Sept. 29, then his ACL on Nov. 14. When Chubb suffered a similar injury to the same knee at Georgia, he didn't miss a single game in the Bulldogs' following season, but at that time his ACL wasn't torn. It still remains to be seen whether Chubb will be available for the start of training camp as even a limited participant, or whether he'll be on the field in Week 1 versus Dallas, but the Browns are optimistic he'll be fully healthy and suiting up at some point during the 2024 campaign. Cleveland has depth to lean on if Chubb isn't able to play early, as the team added bruiser D'Onta Foreman and pass-catching specialist Nyheim Hines (knee) to a backfield already housing Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong. |
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Amari Cooper Amari Cooper Misses final day of minicamp
Thu, Jun 13, 2024, 10:52 AM
Cooper didn't report to June minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: With his absence confirmed for a third straight day, Cooper can be fined slightly more than $100,000. He's in the final year of his contract and looking for a new deal, following a 2023 season in which he had career highs for receiving yards (1,250) and yards per catch (17.4) despite missing two games and playing with four different quarterbacks. He struggled to produce with PJ Walker and especially Dorian Thompson-Robinson, but Cooper reached 90 yards in four of Deshaun Watson's six starts and averaged 121.3 yards in the four games he played with Joe Flacco. Cooper will turn 30 next week and remains crucial to the Cleveland offense even after an offseason trade for Jerry Jeudy. |
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dorian Thompson-Robinson Remains limited
Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 2:45 PM
Thompson-Robinson (hip) participated in 7-on-7 drills Tuesday, but is still limited in practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Thompson-Robinson is still not fully cleared from a hip subluxation suffered during the Browns' Week 15 win over the Texans. There was hope he'd be cleared in time for mandatory minicamp, which began Monday, but it does appear the UCLA product is at least making progress in his recovery. DTR is expected to compete with Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley for the top backup role behind Deshaun Watson (shoulder). |
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Jerry Jeudy Jerry Jeudy Not practicing
Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 1:30 PM
Coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that Jeudy (undisclosed) isn't practicing but is in the building and "working through some things," Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Jeudy appears to be dealing with a minor injury, per Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, though details remain undisclosed. It doesn't sound like Jeudy is in any danger of being less than a full go for training camp in late July, but there's a possibility he won't get back on the field before then. After being traded to Cleveland in March, he quickly agreed to a three-year extension with the team. Jeudy is positioned to work as the No. 2 wideout behind Amari Cooper, who is holding out from mandatory minicamp. |
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Deshaun Watson Deshaun Watson Progresses to 7-on-7s
Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 11:08 AM
Watson (shoulder) is throwing passes in 7-on-7 drills Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Analysis: It's the first time Watson has thrown passes in 7-on-7s during the offseason, making this a tangible step forward on the first day of June minicamp. He seems to be on track for 11-on-11s at the start of training camp in late July, although it's not a guarantee given that the Browns seem inclined toward caution with his recovery. Watson had surgery last November to repair a displaced glenoid fracture in his right shoulder -- an uncommon injury without any known precedent among NFL quarterbacks. He seems to be progressing as the Browns had hoped, with Petrak noting that Watson's throwing velocity looked good during Tuesday's practice. |
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Amari Cooper Amari Cooper Appears to be holding out
Tue, Jun 11, 2024, 10:47 AM
Cooper isn't present Tuesday for the start of mandatory minicamp, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Analysis: Cooper is in the final year of his contract and presumably wants an extension. The Browns can fine him while he's absent, and it's possible this stretches into training camp if the wideout doesn't have a new contract by late July. Cooper had career highs for receiving yards (1,250) and yards per catch (17.4) last season, buoyed by a 25-485-3 receiving line in the four games he played with Joe Flacco as Cleveland's starting QB. Cooper also did well with Deshaun Watson, reaching 90 yards in four of the six full games Watson played, whereas Cleveland's other main pass catchers -- namely TE David Njoku and WR Elijah Moore -- struggled to get anything going with the supposed franchise QB. The Browns added Jerry Jeudy this offseason, likely pushing Moore back to the No. 3 role and giving Cooper more competition for targets. |
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Pierre Strong Pierre Strong Taking part in OTAs
Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 6:18 PM
Strong (back) was spotted participating in Wednesday's practice, Joshua Gunter of Cleveland.com reports.
Analysis: Strong was inactive for Browns' wild-card loss to the Texans in January, but is well over his back issue. After Cleveland added D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines to a backfield that already includes Nick Chubb (knee) and Jerome Ford, Strong may be on the roster bubble with the Browns this summer. |
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could return next week
Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 4:25 PM
Thompson-Robinson (hip) had an MRI earlier in the week that showed encouraging results with no setbacks, Brad Stainbrook of 247Sports.com reports.
Analysis: The UCLA product missed the remainder of the Browns' 2023 campaign after sustaining a hip subluxation during the team's Week 15 win over the Texans. However, he could be now nearing a return to the field. Thompson-Robinson's most recent MRI indicated more promising results, and if his body responds well to the increased workload this week, he has a chance to participate in Cleveland's mandatory minicamp starting June 11. Once DTR is back to full health, he'll compete with Jameis Winston and Tyler Huntley for the Browns' top backup quarterback role. |
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Nick Chubb Nick Chubb No timetable for practice return
Wed, Jun 5, 2024, 1:26 PM
Chubb (knee) said Wednesday that he doesn't have a timeline for returning to practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Analysis: Chubb had surgery Sept. 29 to address an MCL tear and then another procedure Nov. 14 to repair his ACL. The injury he suffered Week 2 last season also included damage to his meniscus and medial capsule, further adding to the difficulty of rehabbing a severe left knee for the second time. He tore three ligaments in the same knee while playing at Georgia in Oct. 2015, though in that case his ACL remained intact. Chubb seems unlikely to be ready for the start of training camp and might also miss the start of the regular season, but he anticipates making a full recovery and playing in games at some point this year. In the meantime, the Browns have Jerome Ford, D'Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong as their top running backs, with Nyheim Hines potentially pitching in as a pass-catching specialist. |
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