BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Jameis Winston’s performance in Sunday’s win earned him league recognition as the Browns began preparations for the Chargers.
Here’s a few Brownie Bites from Wednesday.
Award winner – Winston was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week the NFL announced Wednesday. Winston, who made his first start since September 25, 2022, completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns and a 115.3 in a 29-24 win over the Ravens. “I think any individual recognition or accolades that our guys get are great and they also reflect well on the collective,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said. “So happy for Jameson and happy for what that means for the football team.” Winston led the NFL in passing last weekend to earn his third player of the week honor of his career. He is the first Browns QB to win the honor since Baker Mayfield in Week 7 of the 2020 season. “It feels like one start,” Winston said. “My main focus is getting back out there and having a great practice today and continuing to lead this offense to do what we’re capable of doing.” Nickelodeon named Winston the weekly NVP and he received the slime treatment from Joel Bitonio, Jack Conklin, Wyatt Teller and Ethan Pocic.
Ride with 5 – Winston’s debut has earned him the starting job for the remainder of the season, at least that is the plan according to Stefanski. “Yes, as you know in football we're all day to day,” Stefanski said. Winston is consistent in his approach – one day at a time. “To be a great NFL strong quarterback, my preparation has to be to the standard that's required and nothing's going to change about that,” Winston said.
Lose Yourself – The Browns played Eminem’s ‘Lose Yourself’ at the start of Wednesday’s practice, an apparent homage to Winston quoting the artist’s song during his postgame TV interview with CBS following the win over Baltimore. “I have not heard from Eminem, but that is, I encourage everyone to just have that mentality,” Winston said, “because that's so true in all of our professions. Opportunities only come around once and we have to be grateful and receive them with authority and make the most of them.”
JOK out, Ward TBD – Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will not play this week against the Chargers according to Stefanski while cornerback Denzel Ward’s status is to be determined. Owusu-Koramoah was carted off the field in the third quarter Sunday against the Ravens and taken to a local hospital with a neck injury. He was released Monday morning. “He was here today, he's home now,” Stefanski said. “He's getting better, but no update past that.” Ward is in the concussion protocol after suffering his sixth known concussion. “I wouldn't say I'm concerned,” cornerback Greg Newsome II said. “We put all our trust in the Lord and our medical staff, so I definitely think they'll do a great job with him. He's still got high spirits and everything like that, but yeah, we're just praying for him every single day and we know he'll get through this. Stefanski didn’t rule Ward out because he is day-to-day, but Newsome would be called upon to step up if the 2018 No. 4 overall pick isn’t available. “I definitely will be challenged a little bit more if he's not able to play and I just got to step my game up,” Newsome said. “I definitely think I'm primed for the ability to step up and I know MJ [Martin Emerson Jr.] is as well and Cam [Cameron Mitchell] and guys like that to be able to replace, but at the end of the day we got to kind of carry that torch that he's been providing on that field every day and we just got to find a way to fill that void as best as possible.”
Deadline looming – The NFL trade deadline is under a week away – next Tuesday at 4 p.m. eastern – and the outcome of Sunday’s game could weigh into how much selling EVP of football operations and GM Andrew Berry does. “I don't pay any attention to it,” Stefanski said. “I know guys are human and there's some things that come across their phone, I'm sure, but we really control what we can control. We're not worried about the past. We're not so worried about the future either.” Defensive end Za’Darius Smith appears to be the hottest commodity on the rumor mill, something Stefanski doesn’t go out of his way to discuss with Berry. “Andrew and I, we talk every day,” Stefanski said. “We talk about everything but I also, my number one job is to get this football team ready to play, so he keeps me in the loop, but on everything having to do with generally managing the football team, but I'm not in the weeds with him.” Newsome, who had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract for 2025 picked up, has also been mentioned in trade rumors, something he isn’t thinking about. “Not really,” Newsome said. “I built a home here. I built a lot of brothers here. I built great relationships with everyone in the building, and I know my value and I know they know my value. So at the end of the day, my goal is to do my part and to continue to get this team one to know each week. But definitely you see things like that. But at the end of the day, I got trust in the Lord above that. Whatever happens, I'll be great, but I know AB trusts me fully out there, so I'm really not looking at that stuff.”
Injury report – DNP: G Joel Bitonio (foot), LB Jordan Hicks (elbow, triceps), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck), CB Denzel Ward (concussion), DE Za’Darius Smith (illness); LIMITED: S Grant Delpit (groin), Mohamoud Diabate (thigh, groin), RB Jerome Ford (hamstring),DT Shelby Harris (hamstring), S Ronnie Hickman (ankle), DE Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee), LT Jedrick Wills (knee); FULL: DE Myles Garrett (Achilles), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), QB Dorian Thompson Robinson (finger), S Juan Thornhill (shoulder)
