Nick Mullens, added to the Browns practice squad, has started 16 NFL games with the San Francisco 49ers. He's 5-11 as a starter. (Cleveland Browns)
Browns start practice squad with 10 of their own, plus QB Nick Mullens
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
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 filled 11 of 16 slots on their practice squad. Ten of them are players brought back from their training camp. The lone outsider is former 49ers quarterback Nick Mullens, who was cut by the Eagles.
Mullens’ four seasons in San Francisco under coach Kyle Shanahan exposed him to an offensive system similar to the one here with the Browns. Mullen has made 16 starts in relief of injured Jimmy Garoppolo, winning five. He’s thrown for 25 touchdowns v. 22 interceptions and has a career passer rating of 87.2.
“The thinking is get a quarterback in here, take a look at him,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “He has some prior experience in this system. [Offensive assistant] T.C. McCartney was with him in San Francisco, so he had some intel on him.”
The 10 players brought back after being cut on Tuesday were:
Receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley, defensive tackle Sheldon Day, tight end Jordan Franks, defensive end Porter Gustin, running back John Kelly, linebacker Elijah Lee, safety Jovante Moffatt, and receiver/returner JoJo Natson.
Success not changing Chubb
What’s it like to be Nick Chubb these days? In a word, great.
The fourth-year running back signed a three-year extension for $36.6 million at the start of camp.
His own cereal, Chubb Crunch, with a box top featuring Chubb as Batman, his personal-fave superhero, is selling off the shelves and raising money for support and education of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
He’s in the best shape of his athletic life, freshened from not having taken any blows in a preseason game.
And his team is fixated on competing for the AFC championship.
What’s not to like?
“I think of [longest-tenured teammate] Joel Bitonio. He’s been here forever and he’s had a lot of losses, and now things have turned around,” Chubb said. “I feel good for guys like that. Been through the worst of times and they’re finally winning some games.
“I think altogether -- players, coaches, organization -- everybody’s doing their part. We’re getting guys that want to play in Cleveland. Coach is doing an amazing job, too, in just culture change, winning some games and what it feels like to win. I think it’s contagious, winning games. It’s all we want to keep doing.”
At 26, Chubb is just entering the prime of his career. His three-year rushing average of 5.23 yards is greater than that of Jim Brown (5.07) over his first three NFL seasons.
Chubb said he’s a different and better back than when he broke in as a rookie in 2018.
“Yeah, I would say so. Just physically. I know a lot about myself. When I was younger, I could eat whatever I wanted to. Now I can’t or I feel it the next day. So just maturity wise I have grown up,” Chubb said.
I asked Chubb, with everything going so well, if he has adopted any individual goals this year.
“Not really,” he answered. “I just want to win games.”
Thank God some things never change.
Comings and goings
The Browns placed linebacker Jacob Phillips (torn biceps) on injured reserve with the hope of activating him before the season is over. Stefanski said Phillips underwent surgery and there is hope he could return. “Hopefully, he attacks this rehab like I know he will and then see where we are as he gets healthy,” Stefanski said.
The Browns then used the roster spot to re-sign defensive end Joe Jackson, who was waived at the initial roster cutdown to 53. Jackson is the fourth defensive end, joining Takk McKinley as backups to Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney.
Brownie bits
Denzel Ward’s bout with “general soreness” is over, as he’s been active at each practice this week. “Definitely, [missing practice was] just to be fresh for the season,” he said. “Main focus is on Week 1. It was just general soreness, or whatever. You guys seen I was still working [on the side].” …
Receiver Rashard Higgins was excused for a second day in a row.
