BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns receiver Anthony Schwartz suffered a knee injury forcing him to leave Thursday’s practice early.
Schwartz suffered the non-contact injury midway through the session while running a route before going down and being tended to.
It is unclear the specifics or severity of the injury which the team said is “being further evaluated,” which means Schwartz is likely undergoing some sort of imagery including x-rays or an MRI.
The 2021 third round pick, who started two of the 14 games he appeared in as a rookie, caught 10 passes for 135 yards and a score last season, walked off the field alongside a trainer while wearing a towel on his head.
The Browns started camp without rookie receiver David Bell, who started on the physically unable to perform list with a foot injury suffered during the June minicamp.
On air – Head coach Kevin Stefanski is easing his team into camp as both the offense and defense continue to work separately during short practices.
The CBA mandates an acclimation period at the outset of camps around the league that includes no contact for the first three practices. Starting Saturday they'll be allowed to add competitive periods and go full speed.
Thursday afternoon the offense worked on the west field and the defense on the east field nearest the building with the session lasting about an hour.
While Deshaun Watson connected with ease to Donovan Peoples-Jones multiple times and on a nice deep ball to Demetric Felton, it’s way too early to get hyped about plays run and completions made with no defense around.
Magic man – It’s clear receiver Amri Cooper is excited to team up with Watson in Cleveland. Cooper was asked to compare his new starting QB to former teammates Derek Carr and Dak Prescott.
“He’s right there at the top. He can do everything,” Cooper said Thursday. “I call him the magician. He just makes plays out there. He’s incredible, some of the stuff I’ve seen on film with, shoot, going back to Clemson. He just makes it happen so he’s definitely up there at the top.”
As for the most common trait those three quarterbacks have, Cooper dropped this gem.
“They all have No. 4,” Cooper said. “That’s the secret.”
Head gear – Many Browns players donned the new Guardian Caps, a protective shell worn outside their helmets, for the first time Thursday.
Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio admitted he wasn’t crazy about wearing them at first but understands the reasoning behind the new device.
“I poked fun at it, but if there's a way to protect the head when you can, I think it's a positive movement,” Bitonio said. “I'm not a guy that's going to like headbang the whole game anyway, I try to use technique and hands and shoulders and different levers instead of your head. I know some guys enjoy that, I guess, but for me I'd rather keep my head out of it as much as possible. Sometimes you have to, it's football, but it's another thing you can add to protect the players, we're trying to get player safety and we want guys to live long, happy lives and if it helps a little bit for wearing a guardian helmet for a couple weeks, I think it's worth it.”
Earlier this year the NFL and NFLPA jointly agreed to mandate the extra protection for offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and tight ends to be worn through the first two preseason games. The head gear will also be available to any other player who wishes to wear it.
Stefanski doesn’t expect the padding will have any impact on their preparation during camp.
“No, everything we do, we keep the head out of it,” Stefanski said. “Whether you are tackling or blocking or taking on a block we are trying to keep our head out of it. That is good technique. Putting these things on does not automatically make you a battering ram of any sort so we are still being very safe in how we teach, and the guys know that is how we operate. We do not use our head in that way.”
Bittersweet symphony – Safety John Johnson III was in Los Angeles and had tickets to the Super Bowl when his former team, the Rams, beat the Bengals in February.
“It was bittersweet,” Johnson said. “I know most of the guys; there are a lot of new guys as well. I know the work that they put in, their daily rhythm, their daily routine. They were deserving of it, it’s not like it’s a fluke or anything. It was kind of bittersweet.”
Johnson was asked if he wished he were still a Ram and had been there.
“Nah, I’m where my feet are,” Johnson said. “I like being here and I think we can get there with our group here. It was just a little bit of both.”
Tretter teamless – Former Browns center and NFLPA president JC Tretter remains unsigned and a free agent after the Browns released him in the spring.
Bitonio was surprised to see Tretter, who missed just one game with the Browns over five years, still available with camps around the league underway.
“I don't know. I think he should [be signed],” Bitonio said. “If you want to watch the film or whatever he's, in my opinion, one of the Top 5 or, if you want to even argue, Top 10 centers in the league, but NFL's weird like that sometimes so we'll see what happens.”
Pads on – Tuesday’s practice will be the first in full pads Stefanski said Thursday afternoon.
Roll call – All active members of the roster practiced Thursday. RT Jack Conklin (PUP-knee), CB Denzel Ward (PUP-foot), LB Anthony Walker (NFI-groin), DT Sheldon Day (NFI-back) observed on the side. WR Javon Wims (non-football illness) was the only member of the 90-man roster not on the field for the session.