In his six NFL seasons, Jerry Jeudy has played with 13 different starting quarterbacks. Every season – four in Denver and two in Cleveland — Jeudy has been introduced to at least one new starting quarterback.
That may change this year.
Jeudy has already played with Deshaun Watson in 2024 and Shedeur Sanders in 2025, the two contenders to be Todd Monken’s starting quarterback in 2026. He also played with Dillon Gabriel last year, who has been QB3 in the spring practices.
The only way Jeudy’s streak stays alive is if raw rookie Taylen Green gets a starting assignment at some point in 2026.
“Yeah, about time,” Jeudy said. “For a receiver, it’s always good to have a consistent quarterback. Having [Watson and Sanders] back is a great feeling. You don’t get that too often.”
Jeudy had a good connection with Watson on Wednesday. He was the receiver for two of Watson’s six touchdowns in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 periods.
“He looks a lot more confident, a lot more comfortable,” Jeudy said of Watson. “He’s out here looking real good. [He’s] a lot more healthy. All that time off last year, he’s a lot better, for sure.”
Watson’s early showing, and the new Monken offense, has Jeudy excited about rebounding from a terrible 2025 season. His catches went down from 90 in 2024 to 50, and his catch percentage dropped from 62.1 percent to 47.2 percent. His drop percentage went up from 9.0 to 9.4.
Despite the off year and the addition of rookies KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston, Jeudy was endorsed by GM Andrew Berry during draft weekend as “our bell cow” wideout.
“End of day, I’m just focused on what I’m doing to help the team win,” Jeudy said. “If I’m the bell cow, whatever that means, I’ll be the bell cow. I’m just here to be the best version of myself.”
“Jerry’s been great,” said offensive coordinator Travis Switzer. “I mean, you can see his quick twitch, his ability to separate. I think it’s something that we can utilize. And I mean, as far as a skill player’s production, there’s so many different variables that go into that. I mean, we weren’t here last year anyway, so, I mean, we’re not putting too much weight behind that.”
Jeudy said he’s “very confident” he can return to the form he showed in 2024, when he broke the Browns’ franchise record for receptions in a season. He said he’s worked hard in the offseason on concentration drills to reduce his drops. The fact he acknowledges it was a weakness in his game is the first step in correcting it.
Watson surge continues
Watson continued to get the most reps in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 periods. His touchdowns were caught by Jeudy (two), Boston, Concepcion, Isaiah Bond, and Jamari Thrash.
Sanders had one TD throw to Tylan Wallace. Watson, Sanders and Gabriel each was victimized by deflections off receivers that resulted in interceptions. Cornerback Nate Evans, rookie linebacker Justin Jefferson and safety Zion Washington were the beneficiaries of the deflections.
In the last two OTAs open to media, the defense recorded six interceptions. Five were deflections off receivers and the sixth was a deflection off a defender.
“The ball is oxygen,” said defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. “Like, you need oxygen to live so the ball is our oxygen. We need it for our football lives. So anytime that ball is in the air or someone’s running with it, we’re attacking it. If it’s on the ground, we’re scooping it and we are scoring with it. It just has to do with our mindset that is our livelihood. It’s our oxygen.”
Special teams update
Special teams coordinator Byron Storer provided a specialist update in his first media appearance at OTAs.
* There are three punters on the roster – incumbent Corey Bojorquez; Wes Pahl, an undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State; and Nik Constantinou, the team’s International Pathway Player, who doesn’t count against the 90 roster. Although Storer said the job “is Corey’s to lose,” it’s not an automatic lock. “We’re trying to win the net punt game,” Storer said. “So, we’re trying to give up the fewest amount of yards possible. And last year, our net punt average just wasn’t where it should be. And so that’s the reason why we’re getting a hard look at some of these young guys. But at the end of the day, it’s Corey’s job to lose.”
* Malachi Corley and Dylan Sampson are the top kickoff return candidates, but Storer is getting a lot of guys reps.
* Gage Larvadain and rookie KC Concepcion are “1A and 1B” as the punt returner candidates.
* Although rookie Denzel Boston had a punt return for touchdown at Washington, Storer is intrigued with using Boston in different ways on special teams because o of his size.
Brownie bits
Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Maliek Collins, Elgton Jenkins and Tytus Howard were among the absentees. Grant Delpit made his first appearance but did not work. Other notables who did not work for undisclosed reasons were Harold Fannin, Dylan Sampson, Mason Graham and Emmanuel McNeil-Warren …
Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg said there has been “some” interaction between he and Garrett, but he declined to elaborate. Garrett has been in Japan, based on his Instagram posts. “I’d love everybody to be around, but I also understand people have different things,” Rutenberg said. “I’ve had great communication and I’m excited for when everyone’s here to put it together.” …
As for Ward, Rutenberg said, “It’s been great … really excited having gotten to know him and to continue to get to know him.” At his annual football camp at Nordonia High School on Wednesday night, Ward explained his absence from OTAs. “I’ve just been training, working out. I got a girlfriend, so I got to take her on some dates. No, I’ve just been working out, working my craft. Getting prepared for when I get back in there, and, yeah, that’s it.” …
Defensive tackle Mike Hall suffered an apparent injury to his right knee in a non-contact period. Hall was assisted off the field by two trainers and helped to the indoor facility without the use of a cart. There was no update after practice …
Rookie offensive linemen Spencer Fano, Austin Barber and Parker Brailsford continued to line up on the second offensive line. With projected starters Elgton Jenkins and Tytus Howard not in attendance, and Luke Wypler still not cleared to practice, the first O-line had Dawand Jones at left tackle, Zion Johnson at left guard, Kendrick Green at center, Jack Corley at right guard and KT Leveston at right tackle. The second O-line was Fano at left tackle, Zak Zinter at left guard, Brailsford at center, Tyree Phillips at right guard, and Austin Barber at right tackle.