Hollywood Higgins predicts a big year for Baker Mayfield, which is why Higgins decided to return to the Browns on a one-year contract. (cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from Browns practice and interviews …
The Browns will take any good news they can get and center JC Tretter finally appearing on the practice field on Monday was good news.
Tretter has been out since undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Aug. 13. He apparently injured the knee in the fateful 20-13 loss in Pittsburgh on Dec. 1. Tretter finished the last four weeks of the 2019 season on the injury report and barely practiced.
And then Tretter did not practice the entire training camp. Rookie Nick Harris took all the snaps at center with the first team in camp.
Coach Kevin Stefanski volunteered Tretter’s return at the start of his Zoom call, but clammed up fast.
“It was good to have JC back out there,” Stefanski said. “Not going to get the extent to which he was back out there. We will deal with that on Wednesday. Going inside, I know you guys were not out there at practice. It was good to have him out there in his pads. It was a nice crisp practice in the indoor.”
Depth chart unveiled
Stefanski’s first unofficial depth chart of the season contained no surprises but confirmed two roles that evolved by the end of camp.
David Njoku was listed as the third tight end behind Austin Hooper and rookie Harrison Bryant.
JoJo Natson was listed as the first punt and kickoff returner ahead of rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Cramming for Sunday
Newly acquired safety Ronnie Harrison said he “will be somewhat ready, not 100 percent” to contribute Sunday in the opener in Baltimore.
Harrison also offered some insight as to his future role in coordinator Joe Woods’ defense.
Stefanski previously said Harrison was a good fit for the Seattle Cover 3 system Woods has implemented.
“He is constantly preaching one man, one gap,” Harrison said of Woods. “He wants to play one high safety. That is what he likes to stop the run. Being in that box, that is kind of what I do. That is what lived on being at Alabama and stuff like that so that is kind of my go-to. That fits me pretty well.
“Playing quarters, you play a lot of split safety and stuff like that, I have done that stuff in the past and at Alabama, as well. Pretty much everything he had done or is doing I have done before. I grew up doing it. I have been playing in this system for years now so I guess that is pretty much why [Stefanski] said that.”
Red carpet rollout
It was a joy to see Rashard Higgins smiling again. The fifth-year receiver returned to the Browns on a one-year deal after GM Andrew Berry and Stefanski unshackled Higgins from the Freddie Kitchens doghouse.
Higgins’ late TD catch of 7 yards in the Buffalo game stanched a four-game losing streak in the middle of the 2019 season. That would be Higgins’ last catch of the season. He wasn’t targeted again.
He declined the opportunity, once again, to explain what happened.
“Listen, I am out there for a reason,” Higgins said. “You guys know I can make the plays. There are people that believe in me, and most importantly, I believe in myself. When the ball comes to me, it is my job to make the play.”
One of the key people who believes in Higgins is quarterback Baker Mayfield. Higgins said he spurned an offer elsewhere to return on a one-year deal after talking with his quarterback.
“I was just like, ‘You know what, Bake? I am not going to second-chance this thing. Cleveland is where I want to be. You are my boy. Let’s do this thing. We have another year. Nothing is promised. Let’s just live it up, do what we can, best foot forward and not look back,’” Higgins said.
Not surprisingly, Higgins predicts a big bounce-back year for Mayfield, whom he described as “more focused.”
“I feel like there is a way better version that he is showing us that you have not seen yet. The time is Sunday. You shall see it,” Higgins said.