Receiver Jerry Jeudy is unfazed by his slow start in 2025. He had similar numbers through three games last year before breaking out to a record season. (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.
What’s it going to take to dramatically improve on the Browns’ 30th-ranked 15.3 points per game?
How about a Joe Flacco and Jerry Jeudy meet-and-greet?
So far, Flacco’s flame-thrower arm hasn’t made many connections with Jeudy.
Through three games, Jeudy has 10 catches on 21 targets for 134 yards and no touchdowns.
A year ago, Jeudy broke the Browns’ franchise record with 90 receptions for 1,229 yards and four TDs. He did that with Deshaun Watson, Jameis Winston, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe throwing the rock.
But guess what? Through three games last year, Jeudy had just 12 catches on 21 targets for 125 yards and one touchdown – almost identical to this year.
“I’ve been through this situation before,” Jeudy said. “Good thing is I’ve dealt with that. Biggest thing is having the right mindset and just knowing this is the game of football. One week you might not get no catches, the next week you might have 10, 14, 20 catches. The week after that, you might not get any catches again.
“The biggest thing is staying level-headed and just know eventually your time will come. Being patient. Don’t let it really mess up your feelings about the game, the way you come out and practice. It’s a part of football.”
Jeudy’s breakthrough came in Game 10 last year. With Winston at the helm, he had a 142-yard game against New Orleans, followed two weeks later by that 235-yard game in Denver. He had 108 yards receiving (on 11 catches) against Kansas City in Game 14 and 12 receptions for 94 yards in Game 16 against Miami.
Jeudy says he prides himself in “playing with a lot of emotion, but not playing emotional.” So you’re not going to see him throwing temper tantrums out of frustration as he and Flacco work things out.
For his part, Flacco said, “I do want to go out there and throw for 300 every day and do all those things. I want him to have 150 every week. But that’s just not how this league works all the time. You got to stay patient, and when your number’s called, I think if you are in that patient mindset, then you’re going to be the most ready to strike when the opportunity is ready for you. And I think that’s all we can do.”
Is Joe getting too conservative?
Flacco was a gunslinger in his month-long stint in 2023, throwing for 300 yards four games in a row. I asked him if he’s gone conservative in his old age.
“I think as a quarterback, your job is to go out there and do whatever you have to do to win the football games,” he said. “And I think right now, especially with the way our defense is playing, if that’s what I have to do week in and week out, I’m not going to be shy about doing that. I think there’s always a point in your career where you’re worried about, probably wrongfully so, you’re worried about putting up yards and things like that. All I care about is winning football games. That’s it.
“It’s funny because I’ve probably gotten to throw the ball around the yard a little bit the last few years when I’ve been in games, but I think most of my career I’ve honestly played in that conservative style offense, where you have to take care of the football, and it might not look pretty all the time, but there’s going to be a handful of plays that you have to make in every game that could be a deciding factor. So, it’s funny to see how things go. But teams are different, and teams are good at doing different things, and we’re still trying to find a little bit about what we are the best at. And during that process, it’s just finding that balance and doing what you can do as a quarterback.”
A final word on this topic from coach Kevin Stefanski.
“Obviously, offensively you need to find ways to be explosive via run or pass. And when there are opportunities in the pass game, you know we’re going to take our shots. So much of that is dependent on having the time that allows you to do that.”
As the tackles turn
With tackle Dawand Jones lost for the season with a knee injury, the Browns replaced him on the 53 with Thayer Munford Jr. Munford, who played at Ohio State, was signed off the New England practice squad. A seventh-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2022, Munford has appeared in 46 games (18 starts) with the Raiders.
Munford is the third veteran tackle signed by the Browns in the last eight days. Last week they added Joshua Miles and Tyre Phillips to the practice squad.
The goal this week is to get Jack Conklin back at right tackle. Conklin missed two games with an elbow injury. He was limited at practice on Wednesday. Stefanski termed him “day to day.”
Brownie bits
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger doesn’t like to leave the field. Through three games, he has missed only three snaps on defense. Safety Ronnie Hickman is the only defensive player to play 100% of the snaps. “If you’d ask me, I’d go play offense, go play special teams,” Schwesinger said. “Probably wouldn’t be best for us, but if it was up to me that’s what I’d do.” …
The roller coaster ride continued for kicker Andre Szmyt. He was named AFC special teams player of the week for his walk-off, 55-yard game-winning field goal to beat the Packers. “It means a lot,” Szmyt said. “I think it just goes to show the work we put in … just getting everything perfected and dialed in and overcoming adversity. The most exciting part was enjoying the win and celebrating with the guys on Sunday. This is just the product of the work we put in.” …
Cornerback Denzel was a practice DNP (toe, shoulder). Stefanski termed him “day to day.” Other DNPs were defensive tackle Mike Hall (knee) and kick blocker Shelby Harris (hamstring).