Odell Beckham Jr. will continue to practice this week, but was ruled out of Sunday's game by coach Kevin Stefanski to give clarity to game-planning. (TheLandOnDemand)
Kevin Stefanski nips drama in the bud and declares Odell Beckham Jr. out for Sunday
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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 …
There will be no drama with Odell Beckham Jr. this week.
Will he play? For how long?
That riddle won’t be played this week.
Coach Kevin Stefanski announced in his opening remarks that Beckham will be held out from Sunday’s home opener against the Houston Texans.
He didn’t use the word “drama,” but it came across as a pre-emptive strike from interfering with preparations for a game Stefanski is taking very seriously.
“I just felt it made more sense to have clarity early in the week from a game-planning, [and] practice standpoint,” the coach said.
The Browns obviously had Beckham in the game plan against Kansas City, as hopes were high that he would make his first appearance since ACL surgery on his left knee on Nov. 10. About 90 minutes before kickoff, the Browns and Beckham jointly decided he couldn’t play a significant number of snaps.
In Beckham’s place, rookie Anthony Schwartz grew up fast with three receptions on five targets for 69 yards, including a deep ball good for 44 yards. In 31 offensive snaps (of 59 total), Schwartz also had a 17-yard run on a reverse.
Part of Stefanski’s decision could be based on the desire to proceed with the rapid development of Schwartz, whose world-class speed had an obvious impact in his first NFL game.
Stefanski admitted Beckham’s uncertain game status stressed the game-planning process last week.
“Yeah, that happens in the NFL,” he said. “You practice guys, you have guys in different spots, and sometimes you make a decision close to game time.
“He was pushing to get there and just didn’t feel he could play a significant number of snaps. I just felt for this week the prudent thing to do was let’s let these other guys get all the reps, let’s game plan accordingly and we’ll update next week.”
Stefanski said he talked to Beckham about this week’s plan and said it was his decision. Beckham did not suffer any setback to delay his return, Stefanski said. Beckham has not participated in any contact since training camp opened in late July.
“I wouldn’t say in this particular case [contact is] what’s missing,” Stefanski said. “But I think with Odell, [we’re] just going to make sure we continue to be smart about it, listen to him, and then make a decision that’s right for him and the team, and we’ll make that decision next week.”
0-2 a no-no
The Browns didn’t lose two games in a row last year and Stefanski put his team on red alert immediately following the loss in Kansas City that 0-2 is not the way to start a season.
Stefanski’s post-game remarks in Kansas City to his team and media referred to the “1-0 Houston Texans.” The Browns opened as a double-digit favorite on all the sports books.
Messaging inside the meetings rooms highlights the teams’ records.
“Yeah. 1-0 is pretty much everywhere across the board and 0-1 under the Browns,” linebacker Anthony Walker said. “That’s the message going around. We’re approaching the game like that.”
Running back Nick Chubb said, “We’re an 0-1 team. We have to accept that and embrace that we’re 0-1 and facing a 1-0 team.”
Stefanski said, “I think win, lose or draw, Week 1 in the NFL gets so much attention from all of us. Win, lose or draw, you have to turn your attention to the next opponent. That’s the idea behind the messaging because this game’s important. They’re 1-0 and we’re 0-1.”
Final say
All the analysis about the what the Browns did right and wrong to lose to the Chiefs, 33-29, was summed up succinctly by quarterback Baker Mayfield.
“We played a good game against a great team on the road. We have to play a great game against a great team on the road,” Mayfield said.
“So it’s a good lesson for us. As long as we learn from it. As long as we handle it, it’ll be a blessing in disguise that it happened in Week 1 later than down the road.”
Brownie bits
The Browns found themselves short-handed at offensive tackle on Wednesday …
Among the missing were starters Jedrick Wills (ankle) and Jack Conklin (knee) and No. 3 tackle Chris Hubbard (triceps). That left rookie James Hudson the only natural tackle available …
Possible fill-ins at the other spot included Michael Dunn, who had been out for several weeks with a back injury, and practice squadder Jordan Steckler. “We’ll make it work. That’s certainly something we’ve been on the white board figuring out. We’ll be fine for practice,” Stefanski said …
Somewhat lost in the final outcome in Kansas City was the bullish 5-yard touchdown run by receiver Jarvis Landry on fourth-and-1 jet sweep call in the second quarter. Landry broke a tackle at the line of scrimmage and kept twisting his way to the goal line with Kansas City defenders draped on him. It’s a play Landry probably wouldn’t even have tried last year in his comeback from hip surgery and proved he’s in good health now. “That’s a grown man run,” Mayfield said. “That’s just determination, wanting it more than the other guys. That fires guys up. That’s what I told him. When he plays like that, it elevates everybody around us.”
