BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Although this season has been a massive disappointment, a few Browns were recognized for strong seasons Thursday morning as the NFL announced Pro Bowlers.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from the final practice day of the season.
Pro Bowl nods – Defensive end Myles Garrett, receiver Jerry Jeudy and cornerback Denzel Ward were selected to the Pro Bowl with Garrett and Jeudy being voted as starters. Offensive guard Joel Bitonio, punter Corey Bojorquez, running back Nick Chubb, tight end David Njoku, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and right guard Wyatt Teller were named alternates. “When it comes to individual success, we want that for all of our guys,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “It's a great reflection on their teammates. When you get individual success, every single one of those guys would tell you that's not the most important thing that they understand that winning the team comes first, and I know they would all trade that for success as a team.” Garrett, who is leading the NFL with 21 tackles for a loss and is tied for the league lead with 14 sacks, was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl. His six Pro Bowl selections are the most by a Browns defensive player and are tied for the fourth-most in team history. This year, Garrett became the first player in NFL history to record at least 14 sacks in four consecutive seasons. “It's special,” Garrett said. “I'm grateful every single one. Hopefully I can keep my toes safe and come out healthy, but always excited to go out there and see some of the very best, some of those guys pretty well and being around greatness and that's rare.” Jeudy, who was acquired from Denver in March, makes his first Pro Bowl. Jeudy leads the team with career highs in receptions (84) and receiving yards (1,166), while adding four touchdowns. Jeudy is six catches shy of breaking Kellen Winslow Jr.’s franchise record for catches in a season. His 84 receptions are tied for the fifth-most by a Brown in a season and his 1,166 receiving yards are the sixth-most. “It felt great. I'm extremely blessed and extremely thankful,” Jeudy said. “Just to have the opportunity to be able to make the Pro Bowl for my first year, couldn't do it without the guys in the locker room. Couldn't do it without the coaching staff putting me in the right position to be able to make plays and be successful in this offense.” Ward was selected to his fourth career Pro Bowl. He is tied with Frank Minnifield (four) for the most Pro Bowl selections by a Browns corner. Ward is leading the NFL this season with 19 passes defensed, while adding two interceptions. His 19 passes defensed are a career high. The 2025 Pro Bowl Games on Sunday, Feb. 2 will feature AFC versus NFC head-to-head competitions and flag football.
QB 40 – Bailey Zappe will start Saturday in Baltimore. Head coach Kevin Stefanski declined to make the announcement during his final media availability of the week because he wanted to speak with Zappe and Dorian Thompson-Robinson first. Zappe becomes the fourth different starter this season and the 40th for the franchise since 1999.
Stumping for Myles – Stefanski made the case for Garrett to repeat as NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “If he won the award last year playing it the way he played last year, I don't see how he's not the best defensive player in the game this year,” Stefanski said. “And it depends to whatever metric you want to measure that by. If you want to go with the eye test, I think everybody would agree. I think if you want to go with the advanced metrics and look at the pressure numbers and the times that he's getting double teamed and slides are going his way, that's the piece to me that I think is so impressive and remarkable is he's doing all this with getting all of the attention from the other team. It's like a degree of difficulty that he's able to lead the league in sacks and tackles for loss. With all that attention, it should be impossible. So that just speaks to the caliber he's playing at. I don't have a vote in it, but I don't see how he's not the best defensive player in the National Football League again.”
Quote of the day – “Go check the tape, that’s why.” Garrett’s response when asked why he believes he is the best defensive player in the game.
Injury report – OUT: TE David Njoku (knee), RB Jerome Ford (ankle), RB Pierre Strong Jr. (concussion), LB Jordan Hicks (concussion), CB Denzel Ward (shoulder); QUESTIONABLE: DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (knee), TE Blake Whiteheart (knee), QB Jameis Winston (shoulder), WR Michael Woods II (knee)
