BEREA, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – A day after taking his first 7-on-7 reps, Odell Beckham Jr. joined team 11-on-11 work against the scout defense Thursday.
It was another positive step forward for Beckham, who is starting to see his on-field work ramp up and optimism grow that he’ll be full go for the opener September 12 at Kansas City.
“I hope so,” Van Pelt said. “We’re all hoping for that. I’m not sure where that’s going right now, but he looks really good, he’s running well, he’s coming in and out of his breaks, he’s cutting well. Hopefully we can get him up there for the opener.”
Beckham, who is returning from surgery to repair a torn ACL, was on the field for a handful of 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 plays, his most action to date.
He caught a pass in 7-on-7 and ran routes and blocked in 11-on-11 work.
“The guy will just do anything you ask for him and he wants to be great, and he works at it,” Van Pelt said. “All those guys that are great players, they all have that work ethic, and he does.
“I was very excited to see him when he got back to see that he was in the shape that he was in.”
The injury last October 25 at Cincinnati robbed Beckham of an opportunity to participate in the team’s playoff run, the first for the franchise since 1994.
While Baker Mayfield’s statistics increased over the final eight games of the season without Beckham, the hope is the receiver will make the offense all that more explosive.
“Anytime you can add an elite athlete and a great player like Odell back, it's only going to make you better,” Van Pelt said.
Mayfield and Beckham’s chemistry has been off his first two seasons in Cleveland, but the hope is a third consecutive year together, and the second within the same offensive system, will allow them to get on the same page and make magic.
The two have spent significant time during down times in practice working alone together on routes and timing.
“They’re in a really good place right now as far as their mind space, all the work they did in the offseason, spending time together, just continuing to build that bond,” Van Pelt said. “And hopefully that will show this year on the field.”
Van Pelt knows chemistry comes naturally, and he is cognizant of not forcing the ball No. 13’s direction.
“I just think the biggest thing for all of us and him included is don’t press, let it come to you, and it will,” Van Pelt said. “Just go out and do you job every single snap, be where you’re supposed to be, and the ball will find you.”
Hollywood hurt – Receiver Rashard Higgins was unable to participate in most of Thursday’s practice after suffering what appeared to be a right hamstring injury.
Higgins didn’t run a route cleanly early in practice, drawing the ire of Mayfield, but moments later Higgins was laying down being stretched by a trainer.
Higgins wore an ice wrap on his upper right leg for about 20 minutes before watching the remainder of the session from the side.
ID, please – With the depth at receiver and weapons everywhere, expect the Browns offensive identity to remain the same – run and work the passing game off play action.
“That is who we are. Yes, absolutely,” Van Pelt said. “Now the wrinkles might be a little different off of that, but that is our foundation.”
Full strength – Center J.C. Tretter and right tackle Jack Conklin both returned to practice Thursday returning the starting offensive line to full strength.
Conklin missed Wednesday due to illness while Tretter has missed a few days, presumably just rest.
Special weapons – Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has his hands full as . First, the returner situation.
D’Ernest Johnson, JoJo Natson, Demetric Felton, Donovan Peoples-Jones and even Anthony Schwartz are all in the mix to return punts and kick offs.
“Is there any clear-cut returner right now? I do not think so,” Priefer said. “Anthony Schwartz is a special athlete who I would love to be our kickoff returner. We just have not been able to use him a lot lately.”
The injury to Cody Parkey, which occurred during warmups Sunday at FirstEnergy Stadium, leaves the Browns with Chase Mclaughlin but Priefer didn’t hide the fact that the job isn’t his by default.
“Chase has done a great job this camp. It was a really good competition,” Priefer said. “I was very sad to see Cody get hurt… Honestly, Cody did a really nice job for us last year. He came back eight pounds heavier. He came back stronger. He was going to be better on kickoffs. Chase was really giving him a run for his money.
“I like Chase. I am confident in Chase. I do not make those final decisions, but this is a big week for him.”
One area Priefer feels good about is punter Jaimie Gillan, who enters his third season.
“Two and a half years ago, he did not know what PAT stood for and now we are looking at a guy that can be one of the top punters in the league if he stays healthy and does what he is supposed to do,” Priefer said. “We have asked Jamie to be more of a directional punter this year to pin people toward the sideline to give our gunners a better opportunity, especially against the vice to win. He has done that in camp. He has had a good preseason.
“He really needs to be a weapon for our football team because he has the ability to be that.”
Quote of the day – “Oh, yeah, We love that matchup. We feel like they're the unathletic guys. That guard position, they're not real athletes down there. So they're just physical and maulers. But we try to get in there and create those matchups for certain guys and hopefully we get some wins.” Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney on the prospect of lining up inside against offensive guards.
Injury report – S Grant Delpit (hamstring), G Michael Dunn (back), LB Tony Fields II (foot), LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (facial laceration), CB M.J.
Stewart Jr. (hamstring), OT Chris Hubbard (undisclosed)
Up next – Practice Friday.