It was Harold Fannin Jr.'s day on the second day of practice against the Eagles. The rookie caught a TD pass from Dillon Gabriel and was the point man on two successful trick plays by the Browns' offense. (Cleveland Browns)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns and NFL analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
PHILADELPHIA, PA
One unintended consequence of the various soft-tissue injuries to Kenny Pickett (hamstring), Shedeur Sanders (oblique) and Dillon Gabriel (hamstring) has been additional reps enjoyed by Joe Flacco.
The only QB not to miss time with an injury, Flacco has enjoyed more continuity with the first-team offense without having to share reps. And as the time draws near for Kevin Stefanski to name his starting quarterback for the season-opener – perhaps on Tuesday? – Flacco continues to serve notice that he’s far from done at the age of 40.
Flacco made two elite throws in a “gotta score” hurry-up period near the end of the practice against the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles that rekindled memories of his 2023 heroics with the Browns.
The first was a thread-the-needle laser on a crossing route to Jerry Jeudy that left vapor trails in the ear holes of Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. Two plays later, Flacco lofted a perfect fade for David Njoku in the left corner of the end zone.
The script called for a two-point play and Stefanski unveiled a trick play – second of the practice, incidentally. This was a hook-and-lateral involving a pass to tight end Harold Fannin, who lateraled to Dylan Sampson for the conversion.
Earlier, in an 11-on-11 period in the middle of the field, Flacco tossed a backwards pass to the right flat to Fannin and Fannin fired cross-field to Jerome Ford.
Fannin is looking like an offensive chess piece for Stefanski. The rookie tight end never lines up in the same place on consecutive plays. He’s going to be an immediate contributor on offense.
Showing much offensive improvement from the first joint practice on Wednesday, Flacco and Dillon Gabriel were the only QBs to participate in team drills (there were no 7-on-7 periods).
Flacco finished 7 of 10 with two touchdowns to Jamari Thrash on a skinny post and to Njoku.
Gabriel was erratic again, overthrowing tight end Mitch Van Vooren in the end zone and misfiring high for Jeudy off play-action. He finished on a high note, however, with a nice completion to Fannin on a crossing route on the first play of his “gotta score” period. On the two-point try, Gabriel’s on-the-mark pass glanced off Diontae Johnson’s hands and deflected to Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba for an interception. For the day, Gabriel was 1 of 5 with the Fannin TD.
Pickett, Sanders and Tyler Huntley took no reps in the abbreviated last joint practice.
Is Judkins’ arrival imminent?
Multiple reports said that rookie running back Quinshon Judkins will face no formal charges by prosecutors after an arrest for a domestic battery arrest in July in Broward County in Florida.
The second-round draft pick from Ohio State could return to the team soon if a contract is finalized with the Browns. He’s the only 2025 draft pick in the NFL without a contract, ostensibly because of this legal entanglement. But there was a holdup before the incident regarding fully guaranteed money over the life of the mandatory four-year contract.
Even if Judkins is signed and reports to the team, he could face an NFL suspension if the league determines he violated the league’s personal conduct policy. An arrest alone could warrant a suspension.
The Browns have not commented on the situation.
Pickett’s spirits up
Pickett completed his return to Philadelphia – against the team he rooted for as a kid and earned a Super Bowl ring last year as Jalen Hurts’ backup – on a positive note.
Even though he participated only in 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 periods on Wednesday and remains limited, Pickett was encouraged that the worst of his hamstring injury was behind him.
“I feel like I’m turning the corner a little bit this week, which is really positive,” Pickett said. “I was able to run a little bit more yesterday, so I’m getting there. Just taking a day at a time. Obviously it’s extremely frustrating. I’m only being able to get like 7-on-7s lately and some 1-on-1s, but [I’m] just focused on trying to take advantage of those as much as I can.”
Pickett isn’t certain he’ll be cleared to possibly play in the preseason finale against the Rams on August 23. He can’t realistically beat out Flacco now for the regular-season starting job. He has been listed QB2 on the Browns’ depth chart.
“It was never even mentioned,” he said of his status in the competition v. Flacco. “I think we’re all just going a day at a time. You know, going through camp they’ll make that decision whenever they want to make that decision. But I’m just trying to put my best foot forward on the reps that I do get right now.”
A new fast wide receiver
Former Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond announced that he has signed with the Browns. But a deal is not complete, per a source.
Bond, 5-10 ½ and 185 pounds, posted a 4.37 40-day clocking at the NFL combine and was ranked the No. 10 wide receiver in the draft by The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler. He went undrafted because of an arrest in April on a sexual assault charge.
On Thursday, a Collin County (TX) district attorney said in a statement that no indictment of Bond will be issued.
In a statement made through his agent representation, Bond said, in part, “I want to sincerely thank the Cleveland Browns, specifically Mr. [Jimmy] Haslam and Mr. [Andrew] Berry for standing beside me every step of the way, never wavering, and working to resolve this matter … “
Bond concluded, “My focus now is on football. Learning the offense, building strong relationships with my teammates, and making significant contributions within the Cleveland community. I’m determined to prove the Browns organization and everyone who believes in me right for putting their trust in me.”
Brownie bits
It’s too early for Stefanski to say if he’ll play starters in the preseason finale against the Rams in Huntington Bank Field. But safety Grant Delpit offered a clue when I asked him if he’d like to get playing time in the game. “Yeah, I think that’s Kevin’s choice. I think that’s his decision. I think that’s the plan,” he said …
For the second day in a row, the defense accounted itself well against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense. Day 1 was good. Day 2, Delpit said, “was better.” The Browns held Hurts out of the end zone in red zone periods. “I gotta watch the tape, but … I don’t see much drop-off. It was a good performance overall,” Delpit said …
One day after meniscus surgery Eagles guard Landon Dickerson rejoined his teammates and treated his teammates – and the Browns’ offensive line – to a round of cold beers after another practice in sweltering conditions. Joel Bitonio said, “It looked like a Gatorade can to me. No, it was a nice gesture. You know, O-linemen suffer together sometimes, so it’s always a bond. Even on other teams we respect each other’s game. It was a nice gesture.”