BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns cornerback Denzel Ward returned to practice Monday coming off the bye week.
“I think he is still in the next step of the process,” Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said.
Ward missed the previous three games after suffering a concussion October 9 in a 30-28 loss to the Chargers.
It was the third known concussion of Ward’s career. He suffered two as a rookie in 2018 that caused him to miss three of the final four games.
Wars, a two-time Pro Bowler, was selected fourth overall by the Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft and he signed a $100.5 million contract extension this offseason.
Teller returns – Right guard Wyatt Teller returned to practice after missing the previous two games due to a calf injury.
“It was good. It was good. Good to run around, trending in the right direction,” Teller said. “I don't know everything yet, but it's exciting to get back and start moving again. When you're actually out there you're like, 'Oh, I'm tired.' All this other stuff. But once you're sitting in the training room, you're like alright I need to get out of there, I'm going crazy.”
Teller suffered the injury during the second quarter of a 38-15 loss to the Patriots October 16. It was the second time he has had to deal with a calf injury. He missed five games in 2020.
“I want to be out there every game,” Teller said. “I get paid a lot of money to be out there. So I want to be out there every game. I enjoy it. I truly do. I respect the guys. I don't want them to be out there by themselves -- and obviously they're not out there by themselves, but you know, I feel like I want to be out there, I want to do everything I can, so with that in mind, I'm trying to get back, trying to get right, healthy.”
Designated to return – The Browns designated running back Jerome Ford and defensive end Chase Winovich to return from injured reserve.
The moves start the 21-day clock to activate both players, who returned to practice Monday.
“Feel like this is déjà vu unfortunately,” Winovich said. “I am happy to be back. It is really great to have such supportive teammates. They announced I was coming back in the meeting today, and people cheered and stuff. It made me feel pretty good about it. I have been working really hard. The training staff and the coaches have provided a lot of expertise, time, attention and a lot of love just trying to get me back out there ready to battle, and the time has come. Just taking things one day at a time. It is pretty great.”
Ford suffered an ankle injury at Atlanta on October 4. He returned six kickoffs for 145 yards with his longest return going for 44 yards over the first four games of the season and there is a chance he could resume that role once activated.
“I think certainly that is an option,” Stefanski said. “Need to see where he is physically over the next couple weeks and see if that is where this is heading, but I was liking the things he was doing prior to getting injured as a kick returner.”
Winovich, acquired from the Patriots this offseason, is coming off a hamstring injury suffered in Week 2.
“When I got hurt the first or second play of the Jets game, I had my whole family there – there was like 12 of them – I just said, ‘There is no way I am going out like that,’” Winovich said. “Then after the game, knowing that I had pulled it before the MRI, that was really challenging for me. It was one of those moments when I had a former Patriots teammate, he said, ‘Moments like these are going to take a lot of resolve.’ I am here, and I felt great at practice. Just keep it pushing baby. That is it.”
Njoku still idle – Tight end David Njoku remains idle with a high ankle sprain but he was optimistic Monday about his chances of playing this weekend.
“That's the plan,” Njoku said. “We'll see how it goes. It's just day-by-day.”
The injury suffered October 23 in a 23-20 loss at Baltimore forced Njoku to miss a 32-13 win over the Bengals. Leading to the game Njoku wore a walking boot.
“Just precaution. Obviously, trying to get back out there as fast as I can,” Njoku said. “We also got to be smart. I felt like I didn't need it, but the higher power told me to keep it on for a little bit longer. So it is what it is.”
Rest up – Right tackle Jack Conklin as well as defensive end Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney worked on the side Monday, likely rest and workload management for all three players
Up next – Players off Tuesday; Practice Wednesday.