Browns training camp check: Deshaun Watson update, injury concerns, roster competition (2024)

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The pads come on for the first time for the Cleveland Browns Monday morning. After three light practices to open training camp, the tempo and competition should increase over the four remaining practices on the team’s Greenbrier itinerary.

That doesn’t mean the Browns are sprinting toward anything, nor does it mean there will be a bunch of full-contact periods. That’s never been Kevin Stefanski’s style, and Cleveland remains in the installation and introduction stage of things.

This team is thinking and working toward being at its best months from now, not days from now. So we take our first training camp temperature check knowing that many things — starting with the quarterback’s ability to return and remain healthy — won’t be known until at least a few weeks into the regular season.

Deshaun Watson and the offense

Stefanski is going to continue calling plays. But the Browns shook up their offensive coaching staff because they’re still trying to get Watson comfortable and maximize his skill set. New offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey is never far from Watson or the other quarterbacks on the practice field, and Watson has been a full participant in camp after he threw every other day through the spring.

Physically, Watson seems fine. He said he’s “right on track” with his rehab from shoulder surgery and has had no setbacks. The velocity on his throws seems normal, and he appeared confident and accurate in the team’s last two competitive periods of Saturday’s practice. Stefanski has said the team will be smart and might limit Watson’s throwing at some point this summer, but the plan remains for the quarterback to be fully involved as camp continues. Through three practices, Watson has thrown mostly short and intermediate passes and not much downfield.

As for what’s new with the offense, it’s too early to know. We’ve seen lots of misdirection, plenty of Watson pump-fakes and simulated run-pass option plays. The Browns are operating almost exclusively out of spread looks and utilizing a lot of quick passes to the perimeter. Pro Bowl tight end David Njoku will line up across the formation, and though he’s been in only one full practice, he will get his full share of opportunities when the season begins.

The waiting game

Because Jerry Jeudy (leg) has not yet participated in a full practice, and because Nick Chubb (knee) has no timetable for a return, the offense has not been whole. Jerome Ford, the No. 1 running back until Chubb returns, has been absent for personal reasons but is expected back Monday.

Jeudy is no longer wearing a protective wrap on his leg during practice, and he should also be back soon. Jeudy and Njoku were both participating in the team’s walk-through periods before Njoku got cleared to return — Jeudy should be next. The Browns envision Amari Cooper and Njoku leading the team in targets but are hopeful Jeudy will bring an element of speed they didn’t previously have. The early practices leave a hint that the running backs are going to get chances in the passing game, too.

mr. route runna himself@AmariCooper9 | #DawgPound pic.twitter.com/bcfH17RCPb

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 26, 2024

Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) isn’t yet practicing, but he worked on the side field Saturday and didn’t have any kind of wrap or brace on his knee. Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) is still rehabbing, but the team believes he will return to practice at some point in August. James Hudson III has been playing left tackle with the No. 1 offense, with Dawand Jones first up at right tackle.

The injuries to key defenders Dalvin Tomlinson (knee) and Greg Newsome II (hamstring) are concerning and potentially impactful, though there’s internal hope they’ll be able to return around the start of the season. Tomlinson is the Browns’ best defensive tackle, and his work in the trenches was a big part of linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s big 2023 season. Cleveland has built depth at defensive tackle, but it’ll need a healthy Tomlinson. In the early full-squad reps, Maurice Hurst II and Shelby Harris have been the first defensive tackles up. Veteran Quinton Jefferson will be in the mix, too.

With Newsome out indefinitely and Cameron Mitchell (undisclosed) not participating in the early part of camp, the Browns are without their two top slot cornerbacks. Veteran free-agent addition Tony Brown II is taking the No. 1 reps in the slot, and Newsome’s absence will mean extra opportunities throughout August for rookie seventh-rounder Myles Harden. The Browns believe cornerback depth is important and that they’ve built some, but they obviously hope Newsome can still be a key contributor this season. Another name to track in August is Kahlef Hailassie, a waiver claim last August when he was an undrafted rookie.

Expect running back Nyheim Hines (knee) to return to practice soon, but despite the obvious progress Chubb has shown, there’s no guarantee the four-time Pro Bowler will be ready to start the regular season. Stay tuned.

Doing the math

Given the instructional nature of the Browns’ spring program and the number of established veterans they bring back, a pre-camp 53-man roster projection would have been a bunch of guesses, and therefore not valuable to you loyal readers. We bring the goods and stand in the long lines at the Lewisburg Walmart this week for you! After a few more practices, we’ll go much deeper into the position battles and potentially complicated decisions.

This is a tough roster to make. There’s proven NFL production at every position and a lot of depth. Until we know more about the new kickoff rule and see a lot of Cleveland’s young players in preseason games, it’s hard to tell who’s in the plans or who might be on the wrong side of the bubble.

Add the injuries at offensive tackle and running back and you’ve got a hard-to-predict road map to the few fluid roster spots — maybe three or four, assuming the team stays mostly healthy — that figure to complete the initial 53-man roster. There’s good competition at cornerback and defensive tackle, and there’s potentially a real crowd at running back. Hines likely will be one of the two primary kickoff returners once he returns. To this point, the first players up in the return line have been Pierre Strong Jr., James Proche II and Jaelon Darden. Running back D’Onta Foreman has also taken some return reps.

There are two kinds of emergency lists the Browns’ personnel staff keeps handy. One is a true emergency list of young and available players who could be called upon if Cleveland suffered short-term injuries at a certain position group or otherwise encountered a temporary personnel shortage. The other is a list of veteran free agents the Browns have discussed and evaluated since the spring. If the folks in charge see a young player not properly progressing or believe a long-term injury could muddy things, the Browns could look to add a veteran.

Right now, I think the internal focus is just on getting the players on hand healthy. I think cornerback, tight end and linebacker are the groups most likely to see a veteran addition at some point in August, but that could obviously change based on injury and performance. I’m anxious to see more of young wide receivers Michael Woods II and Matt Landers, though I don’t really see a path for either to make the initial active roster. With expanded practice squads and long seasons, development matters and patience is required.

startin’ to stack up good days 🙌

📸: https://t.co/qVqQIqyD69 pic.twitter.com/BLBkXxyxo6

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 27, 2024

For you deep roster watchers, the second offensive line group early in camp has been Luke Wypler at center, Michael Dunn at left guard, rookie Zak Zinter at right guard, Germain Ifedi at right tackle and Hakeem Adeniji at left tackle. Ifedi mostly played guard in the spring, but it’s obvious Zinter’s development is an internal priority. Both Ifedi and Adeniji are new additions who have experience playing multiple positions. Veteran backup center Brian Allen limped off the practice field Saturday. His status is unknown.

The other obvious battle to track in August is at quarterback. Watson is the clear No. 1 and Jameis Winston will be No. 2, which leaves nothing guaranteed for either Tyler Huntley or Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Huntley has probably taken more reps than Thompson-Robinson to this point, but Thompson-Robinson closed practice Saturday with two impressive throws for touchdowns in a red zone seven-on-seven drill. Both will play plenty in the preseason. Neither Watson nor Stefanski has said if Watson will play in the preseason. If he doesn’t, that would leave him going almost 10 months between live-action snaps ahead of the Sept. 8 season opener.

(Photo of Deshaun Watson: Sue Ogrocki / Associated Press)

Zac Jackson is a staff writer for The Athletic covering the Cleveland Browns. He is also the host of the "A to Z" podcast alongside Andre Knott. Previously, Zac covered the Browns for Fox Sports Ohio and worked for Pro Football Talk. Follow Zac on Twitter @AkronJackson