WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns wrapped up their stay in the mountains Friday morning.
Here’s the top Brownie Bites from the final day at The Greenbrier for training camp.
Day of rest – Quarterback Deshaun Watson did not throw Friday, a scheduled off day for him according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. “He's being diligent about what we're asking him to do,” Stefanski said. “Gave him a day off today. He probably would've thrown if we let him, but just staying true to what we have a plan here with the medical team.” Watson spent the day taking mental reps and coaching up the other quarterbacks during drills. “He's done a nice job throughout the days that he's throwing,” Stefanski said. “I thought he was doing really well. He's focused, locked in even today, proud of him for being in the huddle, giving coaching points. I think that's such a huge part of this as the starting quarterback is even on a day like this where he gets an off day throwing, it's not an off day from a leadership perspective, and he did a nice job.”
2-min drill – Jameis Winston, who handled the first-team reps in Watson’s place, was successful during his two-minute drill at the end of practice that saw 45 seconds be put on the clock with the No. 1 offense trailing the No. 2 defense 24-18. “I thought Jameis in particular, obviously scored a touchdown there, got his team in the end zone and operated really well,” Stefanski said. Winston, who complete five of seven passes during the series, found David Bell in the end zone. Bell made a diving grab on fourth down to give the offense the win. “He’s done a nice job including that last play there,” Stefanski said of Bell’s camp to date. “That's a really, really impressive catch, and to end that drill. He's a guy that has proven to be very, very dependable for our football team.”
Mr. Greenbrier – David Njoku is off to arguably the best start of anyone to camp and appears motivated to build on his Pro Bowl 2023 season as he made life miserable for the defense this last week and a half. “He is making a lot of plays for us in the pass game right now, a dependable player,” Stefanski said. “We're asking him to do some things that he hasn't done before. I think he's taken the bit in terms of learning some different techniques if you will, different concepts. He's done a nice job.” Stefanski has had consultant Mike Vrabel work extensively with the tight ends, especially Njoku these past seven days. “As an outside linebacker, he had a lot of battles with tight ends and can talk to them about blocking techniques and how to release versus an outside linebacker versus six technique, whatever it may be,” Stefanski said. “So I just think Vrabes has a very natural way with helping the tight ends. He literally went against those guys for years.”
Sigh of relief – Running back D’Onta Foreman was back with the Browns Friday, a day after he was immobilized and transported by helicopter to a Roanoke, Virginia hospital. X-rays and CT scans came back negative. “Obviously very, very scary and credit to our medical staff,” Stefanski said. “You're always being cautious there and they followed protocols and made sure that he got great treatment right there. Saw him yesterday when he got back, was tired. So he's getting plenty of rest, but scary and thank God he's okay.
Safety matters – With safeties D’Anthony Bell (PUP-shin), Ronnie Hickman and Rodney Harrison banged up, the Browns may consider adding to the position group by Sunday. “We'll work through all those things again with some of these injuries,” Stefanski said. “We want to see how they respond over 24 hours and then make decisions like that.”
Moore departs – Receiver Elijah Moore left practice early and is being evaluated for a concussion according to Stefanski.
Country roads – Don’t be surprised if the Browns return to The Greenbrier for a third consecutive year in 2025, but that has yet to be decided. “We really enjoy our time down here,” Stefanski said. “Those are discussions we'll have internally. But again, year two down here, different in that our players, our coaches, our staff knew what to expect. But really it's a first class operation. They take great care of us and bottom line is we got our work in and sometimes had to adjust on the fly with the weather, but we got our work in.”
Roll Call – RB Nyheim Hines (NFI-knee), CB Greg Newsome II (NFI-hamstring), S D’Anthony Bell (PUP-shin), RB Nick Chubb (PUP-knee), T Jack Conklin (PUP-knee), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (PUP-knee), T Jedrick Wills Jr. (PUP-knee), OG Wyatt Davis (undisclosed), LB Tony Fields II (right foot/leg), Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (undisclosed), S Ronnie Hickman (undisclosed), S Rodney Harrison (undisclosed), and DT Myles Garrett (undisclosed) did not practice. Owusu-Koramoah, Wills, Garrett, Fields, Bell, Hickman and Chubb worked on the side.
