Denzel Ward doesn't think a shoulder injury will limit his reps this week. (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 practice and interviews …
After the Browns committed 11 penalties for 64 yards in Game 1 against Dallas, coach Kevin Stefanski said, “Easily correctable. And we will correct them.”
Then they committed 13 penalties for 100 yards in Game 2 against Jacksonville.
So the Browns, who had the fourth-most penalties (119) in 2023, now lead the NFL through two weeks with 24.
That’s a pace for 204, which would shatter the league record of 163 held by the Oakland Raiders in 2011.
“We’re being very intentional about what we’re doing [about it],” Stefanski said. “I’m not going to ignore the fact that we have the most called penalties against us in the league. We watched every single one of them as a team. We’re going to correct the ones that we can correct and we’re just going to play really clean with our technique. But it’s something that we’ll continue to address.”
Seven of the 13 penalties in Jacksonville came in the fourth quarter – four on offense and three on defense. It contributed to a wild finish in a game the Browns could have sewn up easily without them.
“You can’t let your technique lapse when you’re tired,” Stefanski said.
Watson’s brain cramp explained
That third-and-6 pass by Deshaun Watson in Jacksonville that stopped the clock with 1:33 to go. What was he thinking?
“I saw a touchdown,” Watson said. “But you have to give [Josh Hines-Allen] credit for making a great play.
“[Cedric] Tillman did his job of selling the block. We got outside, he ran a corner [route]. The corner popped open. But Allen beat me to my spot to where I wanted to throw it. That’s pretty much it.”
Watson barely got his arm moving forward as Hines-Allen hit him. It was almost a fumble. Still, the incompletion stopped the clock and saved the Jaguars at least 40 seconds, which enabled Trevor Lawrence to move the ball 57 yards and get off one last Hail Mary pass in the end zone.
“Just a learning moment for everybody,” Stefanski said.
The play was an example of Watson’s instinctual tendency to extend a play to try to make something positive happen.
“I mean, it’s definitely something that most coaches don’t really coach, in a sense,” he said. “It’s just kind of letting your guys be the guys and make those plays and we gonna take our chances with that. You know, sometimes in certain situations you gotta be smart, but, at the end of the day, I’ve always told Kevin, I play off my instincts. And one coach always told me to never go against my instincts and gut feelings. And I definitely have so much respect for that coach. And, yeah, he’s been pretty right since.”
The coach he referred to was Bill O’Brien, former Houston Texans head coach now at Boston College.
Tackle update
A new twist in the offensive tackle drama had right tackle Dawand Jones missing practice with a knee injury.
It’s the same knee on which Jones had MCL surgery in December. But Jones said he feels he’ll be good to go on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Jack Conklin had his first “full” practice since being removed from the PUP list at the 53 roster cut and Jedrick Wills still was limited.
Wills, who, like Conklin, has yet to play in a game this season, said, “I feel I’m getting there. I don’t know when I’ll be playing. It’s up to the coaches. Maybe this week, maybe next week.”
The question now is whether Conklin practiced at left tackle, where he has for three weeks, or if he returned to his natural spot at right tackle.
A possible scenario for Sunday is James Hudson starting at left tackle for the third game in a row and Jones and Conklin sharing time at right tackle.
Brownie bits
Cornerback Denzel Ward, who was on a pitch count of 11 snaps in Jacksonville, mostly on third downs, said of his shoulder injury, “I’m feeling great and getting ready to roll.” …
Tight end David Njoku (ankle) is “unlikely” to play this week, Stefanski said …
Cornerback M.J. Emerson admitted the Browns were lucky to survive the Lawrence Hail Mary pass that ended the 18-13 Browns win. The ball bounced off the body of Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange. “I feel he had a chance to come down with it,” Emerson said …
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah said he will continue to wear the Guardian cap in games. The rubberized accessory to the top of the helmet helps reduces the chance of concussion. JOK said teammates kid him about excessive pads he wears as preventative measures against injuries. “I had those [injury] issues those first two years and want to find something to be preventative,” he said …
But Ward, who has had five documented concussions in seven seasons, said he will not add the Guardian cap in games. Ward is comfortable with a new helmet that has been custom-fit to the shape of his head and has added padding inside.