On Military Appreciation Day on the penultimate day of training camp, Deshaun Watson appeared ready to make his first appearance in a preseason game. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns training camp Day 15 …
The Browns got in their penultimate training camp practice with Germain Ifedi at left tackle and there were no further injuries to their depleted offensive line.
If all goes well in Wednesday’s practice, which is the last day open to fans and signals the end of training camp, the Browns should proceed with their plan to play Deshaun Watson in Seattle on Saturday in a final tune-up to the regular season.
“All of our starters should expect to play and then we’ll determine who does or doesn’t, how many plays they do,” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Like I told you guys, in particular with Deshaun, I want to take in all the information this week and really make a final determination later in the week.”
Ifedi is the key to everything, it seems, because the Browns might not trust playing Watson if left with the only other available left tackle, Lorenzo Thompson, an undrafted free agent from Rhode Island.
Ifedi is the last experienced tackle standing after injuries sidelined James Hudson (ankle) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee). Plus, Jedrick Wills (knee) and Jack Conklin (knee) have not been cleared to come off PUP and practice with the team.
The key date for Wills and Conklin is Tuesday, when rosters must be reduced to 53. If they come off PUP, they will count on the 53. If they are moved to reserve/PUP, they don’t count on the 53 and would have to miss a minimum of four weeks.
Stefanski was asked if Wills, Conklin and Hudson were not ready to play in the opener on September 8, would he consider moving Joel Bitonio to left tackle for the Dallas game.
“I think those are all things that are speculative for me,” Stefanski responded. “So I really – not really concerned so much about Dallas right this minute. Obviously, we’ve done a lot of work on them, but focused on Seattle this week.”
Jerry’s world
Receiver Jerry Jeudy proclaimed himself “pretty good” physically after the training staff managed him to get to the opener in the best possible shape.
Jeudy said he tweaked something in a leg running a route in OTAs, which set him back from practicing the rest of OTAs, minicamp and a large portion of training camp.
“But now I’m back and going,” he said.
Jeudy said he and Watson will have to make up for lost reps by communicating extensively.
“It’s about communication, trying to pick his brain a little bit. Where he wants me to be at on certain routes and certain situations. I consistently ask him questions, what he thinks about my routes. I think that’s the biggest thing since I haven’t had that much repetition on the field, picking each other’s brains,” he said.
Jeudy, Amari Cooper and Elijah Moore have had no game reps together and very few practice reps together. They did manage to practice together the two days against the Vikings.
He said he’s liked what he’s seen of Watson, despite the lack of continuity with the receiving corps.
“Deshaun be looking good out here, putting the ball in the right spots, making the right reads,” Jeudy said. “Everybody’s not perfect, but we strive to be. I think he’s doing his best to work towards that and I’m seeing it, and hopefully everybody in the world sees it Week 1 when we play the Cowboys.”
Z is ready and willing
Defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who missed essentially two weeks of practice with a knee contusion after bumping knees with running back Jerome Ford, is anxious to get in some live reps in Seattle.
“For sure, most definitely,” he said. “I’m going into Year 10. I haven’t had practice in two weeks. For me to go out there and, hopefully, get some reps this Saturday will be big for me and our football team.”
Smith is old-school and is not willing to say one game of live reps – actually, it may be limited to one quarter – is sufficient to get him ready for the season.
“We need practice, too,” he said. “Practice makes perfect. If you don’t use it, you lose it. My coach from college always taught me that, to make sure you’re involved. Even if you’re on the sideline, make sure you’re mentally in the game.”
Smith savors the chance to score a sack in the final preseason game.
“It’s been a while since we’ve been able to sack the quarterback. To get some real reps will be good for the defense and the whole team,” he said.
Brownie bits
While linebacker Tony Fields returned to practice, new DNP’s included tight end David Njoku, wide receiver Amari Cooper and defensive end Alex Wright. Cooper jogged some routes without a helmet in one period …
Cornerback Denzel Ward remained in protocol and was not on the field …
Rookie Zak Zinter, who played exclusively at right guard in his Michigan career, continued to get work at left guard. He played some snaps there in the Minnesota game and did all the reps at left guard with the second-team offensive line …
With Jordan Hicks still out with an undisclosed injury, second-year linebacker Mohamoud Diabate continued to work with the first-team defense at MIKE linebacker.