BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Outside of a walk-through Saturday morning, there’s not much left to do but play football Sunday afternoon.
Time has come for all the offseason talk to turn into tangible results and the Browns are anxious to show everyone just how good of a football team they are in 2024.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from Friday.
Earned, not given – The Browns are coming off their second playoff season in four years, an 11-6 finish despite starting four different quarterbacks with four of them winning a game in 2023, and returned almost the entire lineup on both sides of the ball yet most national pundits predict Cleveland won’t be playing football beyond Week 18. “It's not like I'm not used to being the underdog in these situations or we're not used to being the underdog,” defensive end Myles Garrett said. “We've been here, me, Joel [Bitonio], and some of these other guys have been here long enough to know that they don't really put a lot of respect on our name yet. We got to go out and earn it… We came off in the playoffs and we've come back healthy and retooled and we're still being a bit overlooked. So we have a lot to prove not only to everyone but to ourselves.”
On repeat – Garrett begins defense of his defensive player of the year award against the Cowboys sack master Micah Parsons, who looks to take it from him in 2024. “I hope he wants to win [it],” Garrett said. “He's a hell of a competitor. He is a great athlete and a great advocate for this game, so I want that kind of confidence in him striving for greatness. I wouldn't want him to say anything else that makes me know that he's going to give a hundred percent and let’s duke it out. Let's see what happens. But it's not me playing against Micah, it's our team playing each other and at the end of the day, hope he does well, just not Sunday.” Garrett, who is the Browns all-time sack king with 88.5, appears to have the more favorable matchup as he’ll look to welcome Cowboys rookie left tackle and first round pick Tyler Guyton to the NFL. “It's a new challenge,” Garrett said. “Just as the league is new to him, he's new to us. We got to prepare for what he brings to the game and the uniqueness that he provides with his skillset as well as his attributes being a taller guy, being a little bit more mobile athletic and moving pretty well. And he's been able to go against a really good pass rush over there in Dallas, so he's going to be prepared, but I offer a different flavor.”
Jerry’s world – Receiver Jerry Jeudy is ready for his Browns debut Sunday. “I’m very excited,” Jeudy said. Cleveland acquired Jeudy from Denver and signed him to a three-year, $52.5 million extension shortly after the trade. “He fits in really, really well culturally,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said.” And I think it's probably no surprise, Alabama, Florida, there's so many connections in the wide receiver room and then just with this roster he fits in really, really well. Just being out there at practice, he's got a very good knack for wiggling open for bursting out of cuts and those types of things. He’s looked really good.” The comment from Stefanski was appreciated by Jeudy. “It means a lot,” Jeudy said. “Just coming in, fitting in right away. The guys brought me in, the coaching staff brought me in, made me feel comfortable, made me feel at home. So kudos to those guys.” Jeudy is anxious to put a frustrating four years in Denver behind him and start fresh. “I think this is the perfect spot for me,” Jeudy said. “Just what officer coordinator, we got the quarterback we got and I feel like the guys we got here is going to make me a better player.”
On the table – Stefanski declined to reveal their plans at left tackle Sunday. “I think all options are on the table,” Stefanski said. James Hudson III received plenty of reps this week when Jack Conklin wasn’t taking them in practice. Conklin was limited all week at practice. “It's getting better and better and just getting the reps in and getting more and more comfortable,” Conklin said. Jedrick Wills Jr., who practiced Wednesday and Friday, was ruled out.
Injury report – OUT: LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee); QUESTIONABLE: OT Jack Conklin (knee); EXPECTED TO PLAY: LB Jordan Hicks (calf), DT Maurice Hurst (hamstring), DT Quinton Jefferson (achilles), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (knee), LB Nathaniel Watson (quadriceps), WR Jerry Jeudy (knee), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (hand), DE Alex Wright (elbow)
