Odell Beckham Jr. had run routes only against 'air' with no defender guarding him -- until he caught a pass in a 7-on-7 period on Wednesday. (Cleveland Browns)
Odell Beckham Jr. takes a small step forward
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
Takeaways from another dog day Browns practice and interviews …
There was a break-through in the Odell Beckham Jr. saga. He caught a pass in a 7-on-7 period of practice.
It is believed to be the first time Beckham participated in a drill that included defenders on the field. Everything else Beckham has done has been “on air” – with no defender involved.
Prior to practice, coach Kevin Stefanski was asked if Beckham is on track to be ready for the Sept. 12 opener in Kansas City.
“He is on track for today,” the coach replied. “I am not really going too far past today and the next day. He will be out there today moving around in some drills. I am not really going to worry about the future in that regard.”
Beckham also did wind sprints with Anthony Schwartz, Jarvis Landry and Denzel Ward, in addition to lining up with the offense in a walk-through drill.
“He has done a nice job in the meeting rooms and at the walk-throughs,” Stefanski said. “He has a much better understanding in Year 2 of the scheme and that type of thing. He is getting good work in. It is work that happens in the building and out on the practice fields.
“It will increase as we go, but I think he is working really hard really everywhere, whether it is meeting room or stuff that they are doing in the weight room. I think it just keeps showing up that the guy is battling. He is working very hard.”
To play or not to play? Just decide
Still no indication from Stefanski on his play-time plans for the preseason finale in Atlanta. Previously, Stefanski had said he would treat the game as the traditional dress rehearsal for the season, implying that regulars would see some action.
Stefanski said he would disclose his plans on Friday after informing players.
Over the last few weeks, some players have said they’d like to play in Atlanta and others shied from going that far.
“Whatever the coach wants,” said veteran guard Joel Bitonio. “I think I’ve played a long time in this league where I’m ready to go when they call my name. I’ve played in the preseason before. I’ve been hurt and not played in the preseason. I feel I’m ready [for the season opener).
“But Coach Stefanski, [GM] Andrew Berry, they’re all smart guys. They’re going to do what they need to do to have us ready to go.”
Bitonio said there is more concern about timing and precision on the offense because of lack of game time among media than on the team itself.
“We’ve done a lot of timing [work],” he said. “Baker’s [Mayfield] been working with the receivers and Odell has gotten tons of routes with Baker. I know the whole line’s gotten a lot of full speed reps out there against good defenses.”
Safety John Johnson came from the Los Angeles Rams, whose coach Sean McVay refuses to play regular players the entire preseason.
“I think there’s more than one way to skin a cat,” Johnson said. “That way showed to work -- just resting the starters. But I think you have to have a level of preparation and you have to trust your guys are ready to play. You can’t really simulate a game, even in preseason. But I think there’s more than one way to get ready for a season. We’ll see how it goes.”
How the light went on
Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome believes he took a “huge step” in his development during the week practicing against the Giants.
“I think last week against the Giants I took a big step in just going out there and playing free,” he said. “I have to thank my coaches who have a lot of trust in me and I have some of the best vets in my room that tell me just go out there and play freely. Without those guys, I think I would still be a little bit behind. But last game I took a huge leap in just trusting myself and playing fast.”
Newsome said playing his first preseason game in Jacksonville against veteran receiver Marvin Jones was a big help to him.
“The first game, always, you have jitters,” he said. “But when I went out there and was guarding a guy who’s been in the league for a long time and has had some success, just built my confidence. So going into the second week, I was like, ‘Ok, I belong.’ It also helped that we practiced against them twice.”
Newsome wasn’t discouraged by allowing a 35-yard completion to Jones when his eyes turned to quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who had plenty of time in the pocket.
“He caught some passes, but I felt I was in a real good position most of the time,” Newsome said. “Obviously I have to clean up some eye things on some of those things. Just to be in his hip pocket on some of those throws, it definitely gave me some confidence.”
Newsome, though, said he is not allowing himself to think he could be starting in his first NFL game in Kansas City on Sept. 12.
“Naw, I’m just trying to get better every day. Whatever my coach needs to me to do that Week 1, then I’ll be ready to do it,” he said.
They knew it
The Browns realized when they signed receiver Davion Davis a few days into training camp that he would be facing an NFL suspension.
The league announced on Tuesday that Davis is suspended the first two games of the regular season for an incident in 2019 that resulted in a plea of careless driving. Davis’ incident was a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Davis was with the Vikings at the time and Stefanski was the team’s offensive coordinator.
Asked if Davis is a different person now, Stefanski said, “Yeah, I think so. He has grown. He is a mature young man. I think he knows that he made a mistake, and ultimately, he has to answer to that, but I do see a mature young man.”
Brownie bits
The Browns made two additions to the roster. Late in the day, they claimed tight end Kyle Markway from the Rams. Markway was on the Browns’ practice squad last year. In response, they waived defensive end Romeo McKnight. Earlier, the club signed linebacker Tegray Scales, formerly with the Steelers …
Defensive end Takk McKinley made his first appearance at practice in three weeks after returning from an excused absence …
Ward, Schwartz, and safety Sheldrick Redwine were among a group of players back on the field, though they did not participate in team drills …
Among the DNP’s were Greedy Williams, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, JC Tretter, M.J. Stewart, Grant Delpit and Landry.
