BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Deion Jones arrived in Cleveland Tuesday and Wednesday he was designated by the Browns to return from injured reserve, which allowed him to practice.
Jones was placed on injured reserve on September 1 by the Falcons, likely as a stash until Atlanta figured out what would be next.
“I wasn't expecting to go back [on IR],” Jones said. “But they had plans and it's just how it goes.”
Turns out, the Browns were next. Cleveland gave up a 2024 sixth round pick and git a 2024 seventh rounder back in the deal.
As for Jones and his surgically repaired shoulder, that should not be much of a problem.
“I was always ready to play,” Jones said. “Always ready to play. But they were looking out for me, also.”
Jones was brought in to help mitigate the loss of veteran linebacker Anthony Walker, who was lost for the season when he suffered a torn quadriceps tendon September 22 against Pittsburgh.
Walker was back in the building and watched part of practice Wednesday.
“He’s high spirited, he’s healing well as far as I can see from the two days I’ve been up here,” Jones said. “Good dude, high spirited. Can’t wait to get to know him even more.”
As for Jones’ availability this week, he and the Browns are non-committal.
“Hard to say. We will see,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I wouldn’t rule him out at this point. Just met him for the first time yesterday. Learning some of our terminology. There is some carryover with what he did with DQ [Falcons defensive coordinator Dan Quinn] down in Atlanta so he does have a basis of what we are doing, but need to see him practice and all of those things.”
Jones made the Pro Bowl his sophomore season in 2017 and he’s being counted on to help shore up a porous Browns run defense that has been gashed for over 200 yards on the ground in the last two games.
“I think they are just one or two plays off from having a good game in the run game,” Jones said. “I think they just gotta gel it all together and it's going to all fall into place.”
Tackling dummies – The Browns are putting “extra emphasis” on tackling without actually tackling during practice this week according to Stefanski.
There is no live tackling in season during practice but that doesn’t mean they can’t work on it.
“We are just going to make a renewed emphasis as a group on some of the different techniques that we need to work on,” Stefanski said. “Just sharpen up. Not too dissimilar to when you are on the other side and there is a certain combination block that you didn’t do quite as well as you think you should. Pretty simply, you just make sure that you drill it the next week.”
During the portion of practice open to reporters, defenders simulated techniques against each other, and coaches used pads for a few drills after the Browns defense missed a multitude of tackles over the last two weeks.
Stefanski also defended his players.
“Listen, there are some very good ball carriers so you are going to miss tackles, but that is where being relentless to the football and having 11 guys running to the ball can help that,” Stefanski said. “It always does go back down to tracking. Ultimately, tracking, putting yourself in good position and then the techniques when you arrive at the ball carrier.”
Stop me if you can – On the subject of ball carriers that force missed tackles, Nick Chubb continues to pile up yards and touchdowns this season and opponents have been helpless to stop him.
“Obviously going into the game everyone knows we’re going to run the ball,” Chubb said. “I mean, after Game 5 you realize everyone is going to try and stop the run but our O-line has done a great job of knowing what’s coming and studying film and playing hard, so at this point, we are a pretty good team but we never know what’s going to happen week in and week out.”
Chubb is the first player in NFL history to rack up at least 575 yards and seven touchdowns on less than 100 carries over the first five games to begin a season and he is on pace for 2,000 yards this season, but he doesn’t even want to think about it.
“That’s too far away,” Chubb said.
Greedy close – With cornerback Denzel Ward in concussion protocol, Greedy Williams appears likely and ready to step in to bolster the secondary.
“I think it is trending that way,” Stefanski said. “Again, just got back to practice next week. I want to give him the chance to get through these next few days, but he looks good.”
Quote of the day – “Keep protecting me as much as possible. As many times as I can get one, I will take one. I am not going to complain about that.” Quarterback Jacoby Brissett on the extra attention roughing the passer penalties are getting.
Injury report – LG Joel Bitonio (elbow), DE Jadeveon Clowney (ankle, knee, elbow), WR Amari Cooper (rest), S Ronnie Harrison (illness), CB Denzel Ward (concussion); LIMITED: DT Taven Bryan (hamstring), DE Myles Garrett (shoulder, biceps, hand), DT Perrion Winfrey (ankle); FULL: RB Demetric Felton (wrist)
Up next – Practice Thursday.