CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski called his own number Friday.
“I’m going to call the plays,” Stefanski said.
Prior to being hired by the Browns, Stefanski spent 14 seasons as an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings, taking over as offensive coordinator during the 2018 season.
“I think with any decision we spend a lot of time thinking about what’s best for the team. That’s where we landed,” Stefanski said.
Stefanski opted to handle the job himself over having offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, who has coached quarterbacks for most of his career, call the game. Van Pelt’s lone season as a play caller came in 2009 with the Buffalo Bills.
“I haven’t called a thousand games, but I will tell you when I’ve called it we’re very collaborative,” Stefanski said. “So we have a lot of people that have a hand in this, and I’m really lucky because I’m surrounded by a bunch of really good coaches on the offensive and defensive sides. [I] Feel good about our staff.”
Williams out – Greedy Williams’ shoulder injury will keep him from the season opener in Baltimore Sunday. Williams was one of four players ruled out Friday afternoon.
Williams hasn't practiced since he suffered the injury August 24 during practice.
Veteran Terrance Mitchell will likely start in his place Sunday.
Tretter questionable – Center JC Tretter practice this week but was limited all three days.
He’s officially listed as questionable.
“I thought he looked like JC to me,” Stefanski said. “He did a nice job and we’ll just have to make a determination as we get closer to game day.”
If Tretter can’t go, rookie Nick Harris would start in his place at center.
United front – While Stefanski declined to reveal any detail of what they have planned as far as any pregame demonstrations as they continue their call for social justice and racial equality, defensive end Myles Garrett doesn’t want the point they are trying to make to be lost in whatever they decide to do.
“We’ve talked about what we’ll do and you’ll see what we do when we get there,” Garrett said. “We don’t want to give anybody any time to dissect it and try make it more than it is or divisive. What we chose to do will have a point. There will be a message behind it and will use it to unify us and the NFL and the people who choose to watch.
“Whatever we choose to do we’re going to do it together, that’s what we talked about.”
Practice squad change – The Browns signed defensive tackles Joey Ivie and Tanzel Smart to the practice squad and released offensive tackle Brady Aiello and running back Benny LeMay.
Quote of the day – “Of course you can pay two running backs, and it's Nick's job to make sure they want to pay him.” – Browns running backs coach/run game coordinator Stump Mitchell
Injury report – OUT: OT Chris Hubbard (knee), CB Kevin Johnson (liver), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder), LB Mack Wilson (knee)
QUESTIONALBE: C JC Tretter (knee), DB MJ Stewart (hamstring)
