CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Jadeveon Clowney is open to returning to the Browns in 2022 but the subject has yet to be broached between him or his representatives and the team.
“I would, but we have not talked about anything right now,” Clowney said Friday. “Just finishing the season. We have a lot of guys on this team who are on a one-year deal, and they might be heading back or do not know what is going to happen in the future. Right now, it is just all about the next game, just trying to get through the season and doing what I can do for the team as of right now.”
Clowney signed a one-year deal worth just over $8 million plus incentives in the spring.
He has 5 sacks, 15 QB hits, 9 tackles for loss and a pair of batted passes in 12 games this season.
While Clowney has fit well with the Browns and Joe Woods’ defense working opposite of Myles Garrett, he isn’t ready to say Cleveland has been his favorite NFL stop, but it is up there.
“I have enjoyed it,” Clowney said. “I am not going to say it is my favorite because and only because I have been to Houston, and I was drafted there, and that city welcomed me with open arms and I was there from the beginning, but this has been no fall off from that.
“A great fan base. A great city. Great teammates. I can’t complain about anything. It is just I was just drafted to Houston earlier, and they took me in like that.”
Garrett hopes Clowney returns next year and eventually he’ll try to convince him to stay, but with two games left in this season, it’s a bit early to ask.
“You know I have tried, but you never know,” Garrett said. “Guys have their own agendas and want to be in certain places. I can’t help it if a guy wants to be in Miami, he likes the weather there more or he likes to be by the water. At the end of the day, I want this team to stay together, and I want the defense to stay together. I think we have a good future ahead of us. I am going to do my best when I speak to them about it after the season, but right now, the season is not over so I am not making any pitches quite yet.”
Hunt and JOK back – The Browns appear headed into Monday night’s game as COVID free and healthy as they’ve been in weeks.
Running back Kareem Hunt returned to practice Friday along with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
It was Hunt’s first practice since he suffered and ankle injury December 12 against the Ravens. He also spent time on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Owusu-Koramoah missed Thursday’s practice due to a non-COVID related illness.
Candidate Woods – Defensive coordinator Joe Woods took a ton of heat from fans and media early in the season, but his defense has gelled down the stretch and kept the Browns alive weekly despite a sputtering offense.
Entering Week 17, Woods’ defense is ranked seventh overall in total yards allowed, 10th against the run, and eighth against the pass. Could the in-season rebound make him a head coaching candidate?
“I have always tried to be the best coach I can be, whether it is DBs or being a coordinator,” Woods said. “If those opportunities come, they come, but it is nothing I really worry about. Would I embrace it? Absolutely. I think you always want to try to go as far as you can in your career. If it comes, I would definitely accept those opportunities and do the best job I can, but right now, I am really focused on winning this game.”
While the Browns rank 17th allowing 21.9 points per game, they’ve allowed less than 20 in eight games this season including six of the last nine.
Honest assessment – Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was candid when addressing the recent release of punter Jamie Gillan and kicker Chris Naggar.
Naggar was released Thursday from the practice squad after making a 37-yard field goal but missed his first extra point try before making another Christmas day in a 24-22 loss to the Packers.
“I think if he makes the PAT, makes the field goal and hits the other PAT, he is probably still here,” Priefer said. “I am sure we would still go with Chase because he is our starter, but at the end of the day, your expectation is always to make a PAT on a nice night, regardless of how much experience you have had. It is a 33-yard field goal. The snap was perfect. The hold was perfect. The protection was excellent. He has to make that kick.”
Gillan lost his punting job to veteran Dustin Colquitt, who was signed a day after Gillan went on the COVID list December 9.
“We felt like we needed the best option to help us make the playoffs going down the stretch,” Priefer said. “We needed more consistency from that position. Hopefully, we will get that here in the last couple games and help us get in the playoffs. That was the reason behind it.”
Steelers lose Schobert – The Steelers placed former Browns linebacker Joe Schobert along with defensive lineman Chris Wormley on the reserve/COVID list Friday.
Unless both players clear by Monday at 4 p.m., they will not play Monday night.
Injury report – DNP: S John Johnson III (hamstring), CB Troy Hill (knee), C JC Tretter (knee); LIMITED: DE Myles Garrett (groin), S Ronnie Harrison (ankle), DT Malik Jackson (knee), RB Kareem Hunt (ankle); FULL: CB Greg Newsome II (concussion), FB Andy Janovich (shoulder), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (illness), WR Jarvis Landry (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (left shoulder), LB Sione Takitaki (shoulder)
Up next – Practice Saturday.
