Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
On the COVID scorecard, the Browns gained one and lost one.
Tight end David Njoku, who tested positive last week, cleared protocols and rejoined his teammates for their only practice of the week.
Safety Ronnie Harrison, who missed last week’s game with an ankle injury and was expected to return, tested positive and was put on COVID/reserve.
There were no other positive tests and coach Kevin Stefanski would not rule out any of positive testers who are symptomatic. But things remain very fluid.
A few things to watch:
* Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney did not practice after not participating in the walk-through on Wednesday because of illness, but has not tested positive for COVID.
* Defensive end Myles Garrett also did not practice, but it was more a precaution. Garrett, who is asthmatic, contracted COVID last year and it hit him hard for several weeks late in the season and into the postseason.
* The league and NFLPA agreed to new protocols that lowered the threshold for a vaccinated player without symptoms to return after one negative test, rather than two. The new rules could enable the Browns to get some players back – and, presumably, Stefanski, for Saturday’s game.
Garrett, who did some work alone on the field, observed, “The guys look in high spirits … a bit confused, but in high spirits.”
Garrett wants more testing, not less
At NFL owners meetings this week, Dr. Allen Sills, NFL chief medical officer, said testing wasn’t the best way to address the league’s increasing spread of the virus. That went against the NFLPA’s stance, led by Browns center JC Tretter, the union president, who has advocated daily testing since the summer training camp. For most of the year, players were tested once a week.
Garrett said once is not enough.
“I mean, today was a little strange in which they went about testing, or lack of testing,” Garrett said on a Zoom call. “Today, it was it was strange in the way they went about testing or, I guess, the lack of testing. I know today they were saying that we were not going to test, and we were just going to go into the building, even though we might have a couple more guys pop up as positive.
“It almost seemed like we were just ignoring it instead of addressing the issue. We should go ahead and test and then allow in the building but not before you get results, and that is how it should be. The lack of testing that we have done all year I kind of feel like has led to this point. Only testing one time a week and guys doing their own thing on Monday and Tuesday with their time off, it was kind of a recipe for disaster.”
Garrett also disagrees with the return-to-play threshold being lowered to one negative test, rather than two, for vaccinated players with no symptoms.
“I feel like two [negatives] is good,” he said. “One, you never know – it could be positive again the next day so I think two is a good standard.”
Njoku excited to be back
Njoku said he was frustrated to miss the Ravens game after a positive test because he had no symptoms, and it was “nerve-wracking” to watch the tight, 24-22 win on TV.
“It is a sense of [being] powerless, but luckily, we got the job done last week, and we expect to get the job done again this weekend,” he said.
Njoku’s return is timely because TE1 Austin Hooper tested positive this week and his availability is uncertain. Njoku said that he expects TE3 Harrison Bryant, who missed the Ravens game with an ankle injury, to play on Saturday.
Njoku said he is confident the offense will get the job done whether it’s Mayfield or Case Keenum at the helm behind center.
“All of the trust and confidence I have in both quarterbacks, Baker and Case,” he said. “The way they work mentally and physically, day in and day out, and week in and week out, we are not slowing down. It is foot on the gas. We are firing the same way as if Baker was here, as if Case were there. They are both great quarterbacks.
“I just can’t wait to get to Saturday. I am extremely excited to finally get back out there.”
Brownie bits
After his positive test this week, Stefanski was not allowed to be at practice or in the building. He said he was able to watch it live through the efforts of the team’s video department. “I have to hand it to the players and the coaches, they did a great job with this week,” he said. “It has been all about adapting, being flexible and adjusting by the minute and by the hour. They were able to get a good practice in there today.” …
Even though the team activated QB3 Nick Mullens from the practice squad, Stefanski would not rule out Mayfield being available. “We have some roster flexibility [so] that we will continue to take in information and make adjustments as necessary,” he said …
Stefanski did rule out the following players because of injuries: Running back Kareem Hunt (ankle), cornerback Greg Newsome (concussion) and receiver Anthony Schwartz (concussion).