The Browns Add Another Unexpected Player to The Injury Report as Their Offensive Line Woes Continue.
BEREA, Ohio – Well, it’s week 3 and we still do not have clarity on the Browns tackle situation; in fact, we received a new wrinkle today as Right Tackle Dawand Jones showed up with a knee injury on the pre-practice injury report. So now the question becomes, who is starting on both sides of the line for the Browns?
The Browns struggles on the offensive line have been well-documented in the first two games of the season. They currently rank as the most penalized offensive line group in the entire league (9), and starting Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked 8 times - tied for second-most amongst starting Quarterbacks with 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy.
There was some improvement from their week 1 disaster against the Cowboys. In week one Watson had an average pocket time of 2.3 seconds, was sacked 6 times, and was hurried 12 times. Comparatively, against the Jaguars Watson’s average pocket time was 2.8 seconds, he was sacked 2 times, and he was hurried 4 times. While the Browns line took a significant jump from week 1, it is clear that they are weathering the storm until Tackles Jack Conklin and Jed Wills get healthy.
“Yeah, I mean it’s a long season, so there’s a rush to come back to be with the team but you can't rush an injury like this,” Tackle Jed Wills said on the long injury process. “You gotta make sure you are 100% healthy so you don’t re-injure it so you play from there and (be) there week in and week out.”
Wills has been out since week 9 of last year when he injured his knee against the Cardinals in a 27-0 victory for the Browns at home. Wills returned to practice for the first time before the Browns week 1 matchup with the Cowboys, but it continues to be a slow ramp-up for Wills.
“We’ll see” Said Coach Kevin Stefanski when asked where Jack Conklin and Jed Wills stand for Sunday. “I understand the questions guys I would just tell you with any injury you have to concern yourself with that day how they feel in practice how they feel coming out of practice those types of things.”
Conklin seems closer than Wills to returning to game action. In the last two weeks, both Stefanski and Conklin have stated that Conklin was “close” to being game-ready before ultimately being listed as inactive.
“I’m feeling better and better every week, so I think there’s a good shot that if this week goes well I’ll be ready to roll,” Conklin told media Wednesday.
If Conklin is ready this week he will likely replace James Hudson at Left Tackle. However, there is the issue of Dawand Jones making a special cameo on the injury report.
“(his) Injury occurred in the game, he is out today but can’t really go past today.” Coach Stefanski said when asked about Jones' status for Sunday.
Despite his knee injury Jones told the media Wednesday that he should be ready for Sunday as long as everything goes well.
Jones has not had the start he has wanted in his sophomore campaign. Jones is tied for the 2nd most penalties of any offensive linemen in the league (3). Despite his penalty issues, he has shown flashes of excellence on the right side and is a vital piece to the offensive line's success.
Browns vs Cowboys Game Preview.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – It’s been 239 days since the Browns fell 45-14 to the Houston Texans in their AFC Wild Card game in Houston, and Browns fans have felt every minute of those days. Here is everything you need to know heading into the Browns matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
Home Opener Advantage?
Each team has been impressive in their season openers, which makes figuring out who has the advantage a tough task. I'll give you the numbers and let you decide.
Browns: The Browns have won their past two season openers and are 3-1 in openers under Kevin Stefanski. The Browns success at home has also been well documented posting an 8-1 record last year which was tied for the highest win total at home in all the NFL with, you guessed it, the Dallas Cowboys. The Browns also have posted a 24-10 record at home and an 8-4 record in September under Stefanski.
Cowboys: The Dallas Cowboys have also been impressive regarding season openers. The Cowboys have posted the second-highest opening-day win percentage (.633) in NFL history and have 40 opening-day wins tied for 6th all-time. The Cowboys are coming off a year last year where they routed the New York Giants 40-0 in New York in their opener. The Cowboys and Browns have faced off against each other 3 times in home openers and Dallas has come out on top every time with a 3-0 record.
Winning In The Trenches
The biggest storyline, and potentially where this game will be won, is in the trenches.
Cowboys: The Cowboys are starting two rookies on their offensive line against one of the best defensive line groups in all of football that includes NFL defensive player of the year Myles Garrett. 6’7 327lb rookie Tyler Guyton will spend a lot of time getting to know Garrett as he gets the start at Left Tackle for the Cowboys. Guyton was selected 29th overall in the 2024 NFL draft out of Oklahoma University. Guyton played a career-high 663 snaps in his final season at Oklahoma and allowed no sacks. Cooper Beebe will get the start in the middle for the Cowboys. Beebe was the 72nd overall pick by the Cowboys out of Kansas State. Beebe in his final year allowed 2 sacks and 7 hurries in his final year at Kansas State, posting an overall grade of 83.9. Both rookies played in the preseason and played well, but dealing with this defensive line will be a test they have yet to face.
Browns: The mystery surrounding who will be protecting Deshaun Watson’s blindside continues as the Browns have still not come out to confirm who will start at Left Tackle Sunday. One thing we do know for sure is that it will be either James Hudson or Jack Conklin. Conklin returned to practice last week for the first time since tearing his ACL in week 1 of last season. Conklin did not play a single snap in preseason and was out all of training camp. It appears that it has been a slow ramp-up with the all-pro Conklin, he has been limited the last two days of practice and Hudson has seen the majority of first-team reps. Hudson played 556 snaps in 2023 giving up 4 sacks and had 9 penalties which was tied for the 11th most in the NFL. One would expect that Hudson would get the start, but Stefanski has still not shut down the possibility of Conklin suiting up. Stefanski did not dismiss the idea of platooning the two linemen throughout the game. Stefanski stated that they will wait and see how Conklikn feels in pregame warmup and make a decision from there.
Who is Starting at Left Tackle on Sunday? Here’s Everything You Need to Know.
BEREA, Ohio – The Browns are four days away from their season opener at newly minted Huntington Bank Field against the Dallas Cowboys. But the Browns still have one major question going into week 1: Who is protecting Deshaun Watson’s blindside?
One of the biggest questions going into camp was when we would see right tackle Jack Conklin and left tackle Jedrick Wills back at practice after both sustained season-ending knee injuries last year.
Well, it may have taken longer than expected but as of today we finally saw both Wills and Conklin back practice, and have at least some clarity on who will get the start on Sunday.
Wills confirmed Wednesday that he will not be starting at left tackle Sunday despite making his way back to the practice field. While neither Coach Kevin Stefanski nor Wills confirmed that he will be completely inactive Sunday, there is a good chance that Browns fans will have to wait at least another week to see Wills in action.
Surely then we would see Conklin at left tackle, right?
“Yeah, again, we’ll worry about today, Wednesday.” Said Head Coach Kevin Stefanski when asked if Jack Conklin was ready to go at left tackle. “He’s worked very, very hard. And I know I’ve said that, but I’ve seen him in this building at all hours, through every month here, getting his body back ready. I think he looks good, but we’ll worry about today and see how he gets out of today.”
Jack Conklin played left tackle during his college days at Michigan State but has never taken a snap at left tackle in his NFL career.
“You know it's different, but I did it in college,” Conklin said when asked how difficult it is to transition from right to left. “It’s just getting the mentality mostly (and) just verbiage; the thought of everything one way and it’s just flipping it in your head.”
Despite Conklin’s comfortability with going from right back to left, the Browns are seemingly unwilling to commit to him as a starter for Sunday. Now, this could just be gamesmanship on the part of Kevin Stefanski, or the Browns could be looking at another option if they do not believe that Conklin is fully ready to go.
James Hudson was a big piece for the Browns after Wills and Conklin suffered injuries. Hudson provided the team with much-needed depth at the tackle position and proved to be an asset for the O-Line room.
Hudson has also taken on an expanded role this offseason working with the first team during camp while Wills and Conklin were sidelined.
“I’m not sure,” Hudson said when asked if he is expecting to play Sunday “I’m just going through the week seeing how the guys feel and taking It from there.”
The holdup here could be with Conklin and if he is game ready for Sunday, and with Conklin showing up on the injury report Wednesday and the Browns failing to commit to a starter, I would not be shocked if Hudson gets the start at LT.
Watson Questionable Going Into Final Preseason Game in Seattle.
BEREA, Ohio – Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski dropped some unexpected news to the media Wednesday after the Browns last training camp practice. Stefanski told the press that starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is dealing with what he called “general soreness” and they have not decided if he will play in Seattle on Saturday.
Stefanski told media during their joint practices with the Vikings last week that the plan was for Watson to start against Seattle in their final preseason game- However, with news coming down of Watson’s soreness, Stefanski could be pivoting from that plan.
“In Particular with Deshaun, I want to take in all the information this week and make a final determination later in the week,” Stefanski said yesterday when asked if Deshaun is still expected to start.
Stefanski has been consistent with the media saying that the plan was always to start Watson in Seattle but wanted to see how the week played out. Now, Stefanski did not go as far as to officially rule Watson out for Saturday, but signs may be pointing in that direction.
Watson took only a few snaps in the first portion of the joint drills Wednesday before being relieved by backup quarterback Jameis Winston.
“I held him back. He could have gone, he’s feeling fine.” Stefanski said about Watson’s light workload.
The majority of Watson’s reps were in the intermediate passing game which lines up with Stefanski holding Watson back. However, it seems as if this arm soreness popped up out of nowhere.
“I feel really good. Each and every day is a test to that stamina, to that strength, to the preparation that I put in, you know, from the day I got out of surgery.” Watson said last week when asked how he feels after throwing every practice. “We’re on the right pace, right track. If we weren’t on that process, I wouldn’t be throwing every day.”
Stefanski was asked if Watson would throw tomorrow in their last practice before heading to Seattle to which he replied “We’ll see.”
Keeping his cards close to his chest is par for the course for Kevin Stefanski, but seeing who takes on the majority of reps Thursday will go a long way in determining who will start under center Saturday in Seattle.
Martin Emerson and Justin Jefferson Put on a Show in Browns and Vikings Last Joint Practice.
BEREA, Ohio – The Browns and the Vikings finished up the final day of their joint practices Thursday and all eyes were, once again, on the matchup between cornerback MJ Emerson and wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
It started with 1-on-1 drills to begin practice, during which the two got physical early on. Jefferson matched up with Emerson in the red zone 3 times, and of those 3 times, he caught 2 touchdown passes. However, Emerson got his revenge in their 2nd rep against each other.
Emerson and Jefferson continued their battle into 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s. While the Vikings offense had the better of the Browns defense in the drills, Emerson got the better of Jefferson early on.
Jefferson had only one catch in the first portion of team drills and was being shadowed by Emerson almost every play that the first team was on the field. However, the Vikings offense was still winning the day and after a 30-yard touchdown strike, Justin Jefferson let the Browns defense hear it.
“Catch the ball!” Mj Emrson yelled to Jefferson after his trash talk, “I been catching the ball, go back and watch the film!” Jefferson responded.
A couple of plays later quarterback Sam Darnold found Justin Jefferson in the back of the endzone for a touchdown on a play where Emerson was in coverage.
“Where you at 23! Talk to me now 23!” Jefferson shouted to Emerson after scoring the touchdown.
However, Emerson got his revenge going into 2-minute drills. The Vikings continued to look Jefferson’s way and Emerson was ready. The 2 balls thrown to Jefferson while Emerson was covering fell incomplete with the 2nd being an out route that he read perfectly and knocked the ball out of Jefferson’s hands.
With Denzel and Greg Newsome down with injury, this was a matchup that had the most eyes on it- and it certainly lived up to the hype. It seemed as if they were getting revenge on each other every single play while keeping the banter at a premium in the process.
“Anytime that Justin starts a drill out with two straight touchdowns to start the drill, the other side is gonna hear about it.” Vikings Coach Kevin O’Connell said, “But like I said a bunch of competitors I think Emerson had some good plays today and I think Justin is a guy who always brings out the best in the guys who are covering him.”
Jefferson is regarded as one of the best, if not the best, receivers in the NFL. While Mj Emerson has well outperformed from his 3rd-round draft position, he is still trying to etch his name as one the elite cornerbacks in the league.
“Oh for sure, he’s a long physical corner, he is definitely going to cause some problems out there on the field,” Justin Jefferson said when asked if Emerson could be up there with the best of the best corners in the league. “It’s great to go up against corner like that to give me the extra work or just put an extra little boost in my play style.”
When Jefferson was asked who won the matchup this week between him and Emerson he played it off with a smirk and some mumbled to himself to the media. He finished by saying that he views Emerson as a tremendous corner and said it was great work for both of them.
Unfortunately, this will be the last we see of the matchup between Jefferson and Emerson this week since Jefferson will not be playing on Saturday. However, if the Browns were not confident they had a star cornerback in Emerson before this week, they sure are confident they have one now.
Everything You Need to Know From Day 1 of Browns and Vikings Joint Practice.
BEREA, Ohio – The Browns have had a tame offseason to this point, but with the arrest of 2nd round pick Mike Hall and the Vikings coming into town, it has been anything but easy for Head Coach Kevin Stefanski and the Browns today. Here is everything you need to know from day 1 of the Browns and Vikings joint practice.
Mike Hall Practices a Day After Being Arrested on Domestic Abuse Charges
The biggest storyline going into the day was whether we would see rookie DT Mike Hall on the practice field today after he made headlines yesterday.
The rookie was arrested and booked Tuesday morning and charged with domestic violence after an altercation in which police say that Mike Hall had threatened his fiancé with a gun. Hall was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor domestic violence and has a hearing on September 10th.
Despite the news, the Browns decided to practice Hall on Wednesday in their first joint practice session with the Vikings.
“I can't get into all the details, guys. I'll just tell you We're going to let the legal proceedings play out.” Coach Kevin Stefanski said when he was asked what went into the decision to practice Hall today. "I know you guys have questions about Mike Hall. Respectfully, I don't have much to add. I'm going to let legal proceedings play out. But I understand that you have to ask the question, but I really don't have much on that subject.”
Hall took snaps with the 2nd team during 11-on-11s, however, his workload was light with the majority of reps going to other DTs like Mo Hurst and Shelby Harris. Hall ended his day about halfway through practice after going down to the turf with an injury.
Hall walked back to the locker room under his power with trainers. The Browns have not yet made it known the nature of his injury.
When asked if Hall would practice if he is healthy Coach Kevin Stefanski doubled down “I think again, I'm not going to talk past today. I'll just tell you, we need to respect the process here.”
Whether Hall will practice on day 2 of joint practices will be something to monitor moving forward.
Offensive Line Struggles in 11-on-11s
Where the Browns have thrived in recent years could be their Achilles heel this season. The uncertainty at the tackle position could finally take a toll on this offense, and it showed against the Vikings today.
During the Browns 11-on-11 portions of practice, it seemed as if every snap was accompanied by yellow laundry on the field – and when they were not being bogged down by penalties, the pass protection was not up to par.
“We need to be way better offensively from an operations standpoint. That was not good.” Coach Stefanski said when asked about the on-slot of penalties from the offensive line. “Some of it was the cadence, some of it was the timing. They weren't false starts, some of them were the tackles were aligned too deep at times. So those are all things that are correctable, and we will correct them.”
Stefanski admitted that part of the miss-steps could be due to the carousel they have had at the tackle position. With no timetable for Tackle Jack Conklin and Tackle Jedric Wills, things could get worse before they get better for this Offensive Line.
MJ Emerson and Justin Jefferson Matchup Lives Up to The Hype
The Browns defense was as high-octane as you can get for a joint practice setting, and at the center of it, all was Martin Emerson and Justin Jefferson.
This was a heavy-weight fight that had body blow after body blow. Ultimately, the two were evenly matched throughout team drills with Jefferson gaining a slight edge after he burned Emerson on a deep ball towards the end of practice.
Emerson was as motivated as ever to go up against Justin Jefferson this week. “Of course, I got that on my mind,” Emerson said when asked if he was thinking about a potential matchup with Justin Jefferson. “He’s one of the best receivers in the game (I’m) excited to game reps against him.”
Jefferson was certainly the favorite target for the Vikings QBs. “They are looking at 18 every time” Safety Juan Thornhill shouted on the sidelines while they were facing the Vikings offense in 11-on-11s.
Jefferson caught 6 balls that I saw and had double-digit targets in joint drills against the Browns. Emerson will have his work cut out for him all week long.
Browns Defense Shines on Day 1
Stop me if you’ve heard this before, the Browns defense was dominant in all phases of their defense today.
Early on you could tell that the Browns defense had imitated the swagger they had from the 2023 season that made them the best defense in the NFL.
There was plenty of chirping coming from the Browns sidelines during 1-on-1s, 7-on-7s, and 11-on-11s portions of practice. Leading the charge were guys who were not practicing: Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, Za’darius Smith, and Deannthony Bell.
While all phases had their day in the sun, it was the DBs that held the spotlight today, and not the usual suspects either. 2nd year CB Cameron Mitchell started the party in 1-on-1s with a perfectly read route that led to an interception. Followed by a pair of interceptions in 11-on-11s by CB Khaef Hailasse and Myles Harden – with Harden’s going for 6.
As expected, the defense set the tone to start the week and will likely continue to do so.
JOK Speaks For The First Time Since Getting Extended
The Browns have inked a contract extension with LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah after long-awaited negotiations finally ended as the two sides agreed on a three-year extension worth $39 Million that includes $25 million guaranteed.
“Been a while negotiating but man, it feels good. Feels like, I'm loved,” Owusu-Koramoah said when asked how it feels to get the deal done. “It feels good to be locked into a place and have the place also respect you and give you honor as well.”
Owusu-Koramoah put together a career year in 2023 racking up 101 total tackles (72 solo and 29 assisted), 3.5 Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, and 2 Interceptions.
While the Browns have not been eager to sign linebackers to extensions in recent years, Owusu-Koramoah’s contribution to this Browns defense can not be overstated and was something they felt they needed to get done.
“I mean, there's a strong knowing, right?” Owusu-Koramoah said when asked if he was always confident he would get a deal done with the Browns. “But you never really know how the NFL operates. There's so many different things that can be thrown at you. You have to be appreciative when you know you could be drafted to a team and then the team extends you more years. So there's always a sense of honor there.”
One thing is for sure, the Browns believe they have a cornerstone linebacker for years to come.
Deshaun Watson to Play in Final Preseason Game in Seattle.
BEREA, Ohio – One of the biggest questions this offseason: how much if at all will we see Deshaun Watson play in preseason? Well, we finally got some answers from Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski today as he confirmed that Watson would start in the Browns 3rd preseason game in Seattle vs the Seahawks.
Stefanski told the media Sunday that Watson will take the majority of reps during their joint practices with the Vikings this week. However, Stefanski continued to say that they will hold out Watson for their 2ndpreseason game Saturday vs the Vikings.
“We have a plan; I think it’s important to see how you come out of practice this week before you really make the final say on what you’re going to do in that last week,” Stefanski said after being asked if he had a plan on if he will play starters in the last preseason game in Seattle.
Stefanski was pushed even further when asked if Deshaun Watson would play if all goes well in practice. “Yeah, that’s the plan.”
This should not come as too much of a surprise. Since Watson was acquired in 2022, he has played in at least 1 preseason game; and played in two last year when the Browns had 4 preseason games instead of 3 due to them playing in the Hall of Fame Game.
However, there has not been a consistent pattern with Watson’s preseason action since he got to Cleveland. In 2022 he played the first preseason game in Jacksonville and did not play at all in the Browns next 2 games. Now, this was likely because Watson had to serve an 11-game suspension to start the year, and Stefanski and company were trying to give Jacoby Brissett as many reps as possible.
In 2023 he played in 2 of their 4 preseason games— the 2nd game of preseason vs the Commanders at home and 4th preseason game against the Chiefs in Arrowhead.
One thing is for certain, every season has had different variables that have affected Watson’s preseason playing time. While history tells us that Stefanski likes to play Watson in at least one preseason game, it was hard to pinpoint where Stefanski would pick his spot this year.
With Watson coming off a shoulder injury, Stefanski is making sure he is certain that Watson is not in harm’s way. Stefanski said Sunday that Watson is cleared for full contact but is looking to get the majority of his reps in a controlled environment vs the Vikings in practice.
“I do and I like that you can have controlled settings. I like that both sides can feel confident that their quarterbacks are going to stay upright.” Stefanski said when asked if he feels like they can get more done in a joint practice rather than a preseason game. “For us, sometimes you go through a game, and you don’t get a two-minute, per se, or the third and three doesn’t show up for you, those type of things. So, it allows us to really get intentional work, if you will.”
Stefanski and the Browns have maintained that they would slowly ramp up Watson while coming off his injury and it looks like they are not veering from that plan. Now that we know when Watson will make his preseason debut, there is one last question: How much will we see Watson play in Seattle?
Injuries Pile Up in Browns First Preseason Game: Everything You Need to Know.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Browns opened their first game in Cleveland Browns stadium of 2024 on Saturday as they took on the Green Bay Packers in their opening preseason game. However, the biggest story coming out of this game was not the play on the field, but the pile-up of injuries for the Browns.
It started on the first drive of the game when 2ndyear standout Safety Ronnie Hickman, on the third play of the game, got burned by Dontayvion Wicks for a 65-yard Touchdown from Jordan Love. Midway through the route Hickman came up lame and was later diagnosed with a back injury and did not return to the field.
Hickman was a key piece to the Browns #1 ranked defense last year after injuries to Juan Thornhill and Grant Delpit saw him get more playing time than the rookie could have expected. With an aging Rodney Mcleod and Delpit and Thornhill coming off injuries, Hickman has become an important piece to the Browns defensive puzzle.
The next to go down was Wide Receiver David Bell, who like Hickman, went down in the first quarter. It was unclear when and where Bell sustained his injury, but the Browns reported that Bell had suffered a quad injury sometime in the first quarter. Bell did not return to the game.
While Bell had a slight drop off from his rookie year in 2022 to last year from a numbers standpoint, he was a reliable target for the carousel of QBs when the chips were down. Bell ended up catching 3 touchdown passes in the 2023 season compared to his 0 in his rookie year.
As Bell is now introduced to a loaded receiver room with newly added weapons like Jerry Jeudy, it is more important than ever for him to stay on the field.
The most concerning in terms of severity was Center Luke Wypler who went down in the 2nd quarter. Wypler was down on the field for a while before the Browns medical staff had to cart him off. Wypler suffered an injury to his right leg and had to be put in an air cast before being loaded up onto the cart.
Kevin Stefanski told the media after the game that Wypler suffered a fractured ankle that will require surgery. When asked if Wypler would be season-ending Stefanski was passive “I’m not gonna go there, I'll just say he needs surgery.”
The Browns were already thin at the Center position. After losing former Center Nick Harris this offseason, Wypler is the only true backup to starter Ethan Pocic. NFL journeyman Guard Zack Johnson finished the game, but that is not a long-term solution to their Center issues. We should expect the Browns to sign another Center in the coming days.
“Those are things we will work through in the next 24 to 48 hours,” Stefanski said when asked about if they would add another center.
Certainly, something to monitor as the days go on; but the injuries did not stop there.
The other two injuries to cap of the night for the Browns were undrafted journeyman Safety Vincent Gray and Linebacker Nathaniel Watson who the Browns selected in this year's draft in the 6th round with pick number 206.
Other than Wypler, Stefanski did not disclose the severity or process for any of these injuries. It will be interesting to see how severe they are as the days go on.
Everything You Need to Know from Day Three of Training Camp.
BEREA, Ohio – The Browns wrapped up their third day of training camp from their home campus in Berea. Here is everything you need to know from day Three.
Stefanski Confirms That Watson Will Not Play vs. the Packers Saturday
The biggest question mark heading into the day was how Coach Kevin Stefanski and his staff would navigate who will start Saturday in their first home preseason game against the Packers. While Stefanski stated that he would have some starters play, he also said he would proceed with caution with players who are coming off injuries. While Deshaun has looked good with no visible struggles coming from his shoulder, Stefanski will continue to play it safe and not play Watson on Saturday.
“I’d Say we have a plan but we will work that day by day’” Said Coach Stefanski when asked if they have a plan to start Watson in the preseason. “But not gonna get too far ahead of ourselves.”
On the other side of the field, Matt LaFleur and the Packers are taking a different approach. QB Jordan Love and other starters will get the start in Cleveland on Saturday.
“Ideally, we’ll have everyone getting padded up. Then just how much they play is the real question” LeFleur said.
The approach to preseason changes from coach to coach, so while Browns fans can have an opinion on whether Watson should be on the field Saturday, it does not mean that Watson is anything but healthy.
Jameis Winston, Cedric Tillman, and Emerson Shine
Jameis Winston, who will start Saturday in place of Watson, had his best day from Berea so far. He was quick and concise with his reads and made the right play seemingly every snap. Winston threw 3 total touchdown passes of 30 yards or more. On the receiving end of those touchdowns were WR Jaelon Darden, TE Treyton Welch, and a deep bomb to training camp darling WR Cedric Tillman.
This was the first of Tillman’s 2 TDs on the day with the second coming from Deshaun Watson on a 50+ yard TD strike.
To go along with his two trips to the endzone, Tillman was also making an impact in the intermediate passing game catching slant routes and being an all-around Swiss army knife for the offense. Tillman’s start to camp should have a lot of Browns fans excited going into year two, but a player who may be having an even better camp than Tillman is on the other side of the ball.
Every day it seems as if CB MJ Emerson is making a big play in practice and today was no different. Emerson came up with another interception today, this one he took for 6 and immediately imitated TE David Njoku’s touchdown celebration to pour salt in the offense's wounds.
This was the second time Emerson had picked off Watson in their last three days of practice. With CB Greg Newsome out, Emerson continues to take advantage of his opportunity in a big way.
Not A Lot of Jerry Jeudy
While Jerry Jeudy was on the field at today’s practice, we did not see him a whole lot in live team drills. Jeudy did do all WR group drills during the split portions of practice, but that was about the extent of what we saw of Jeudy.
Now, with Jeudy being a full go since the team got back from the Greenbrier, it is expected that the team is going to be cautious when it comes to the number of reps he’s given during team drills. However, it is something that should be monitored as the week goes on to see if he will be available for Saturday’s preseason game.
Notable Players Not at Practice
CB Greg Newsome (Hamstring)
S Juan Thornhill (Illness)
RB Nyheim Hines (Knee)
RB Nick Chubb (Knee)
RB D’Onta Foreman (Head)
LB Jordan Hicks (Unknown)
T Jed Wills (Knee)
T Jack Conklin (Knee)
DT Shelby Harris (Unknown)
DT Dalvin Tomlinson (Knee)
DE Za’Darius Smith (Knee Contusion)
Another unfortunate side note is newly added DT Quinton Jefferson who went down in the middle of practice and was down on the turf for a while. Fortunately, Jefferson got up on his own and walked with trainers toward the sideline under his power. No further news yet on Jefferson's diagnosis, but something to monitor as the week goes on.
Jerry Jeudy Shines In First Full Day of Camp.
BEREA, Ohio – Jerry Jeudy spoke to the media Sunday for the first time since his introductory press conference in March. Jeudy, who was acquired from the Broncos for a 5th and 6th round draft pick, has had a peculiar start to OTA’s and Training Camp.
Jeudy has been sidelined with a knee injury during the start of this year’s camp. While the team did not disclose the origin of the injury or the type of knee injury, it is believed that Jeudy injured his knee during mandatory minicamp.
“I’m good we don’t even gotta talk about all that right now, I’m out here now so I’m good,” Jeudy said today when asked about the diagnosis of his knee injury. “You know I’ve been feeling good for a long time you know I’ve just been trusting the training staff and when they want me to get going and get reps.”
Still, Jeudy was not present during non-mandatory mini-camps and did not appear on the field during the media session on the opening day of the mandatory minicamp, which makes it hard to pinpoint when and where the injury occurred.
“When you are dealing with any medical things I just trust what the doctors and the medical staff say,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said when asked about when Jeudy would be back at practice. “Of course, you want your players out there ASAP and throw everybody out there but, the reality is you gotta trust the medical staff here and he’ll be out there when he is ready.”
Jeudy had only participated in the last two days of practice at the Greenbrier and did individual drills during that time.
However, There was some light at the end of the tunnel as Jeudy was a full participant Sunday in the Browns first training camp back in Berea and he did not disappoint. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and Jeudy connected on multiple deep balls, with the last one being a touchdown to close out practice.
Jeudy was not held out of any drills, did not do any individual work off to the side, and seemed to have no hitch in his route running.
While there was a lot to like about Jeudy’s debut in Berea, with there not being a full diagnosis of his knee injury, there is also room for questions about if his knee injury will linger at all through camp and into the season. Right now Jeudy appears to be fully healthy and looked explosive in his first day at camp.
Nick Chubb is Back…Kind Of
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Browns running back Nick Chubb spoke to the media today for the first time since his injury in week 2 vs the Pittsburg Steelers on September 18th, 2023. While Chubb did not target a return date, everything seems to be going well as far as his rehab is concerned.
“I’m getting better every day,” said Nick Chubb while talking about where he is at with his rehab. “Taking it day by day getting better, yeah just right now trying to get stronger.”
Chubb sustained his injury via a hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick in which Fitzpatrick seemed to go low on Chubb while being brought down by another Steeler defender. There has since been controversy on whether Fitzpatrick’s hit was clean, but Chubb quickly put that narrative to bed in his presser Wednesday.
“I don’t think it’s a dirty hit at all,” Chubb said when asked about it. “I’m not blaming him, it’s part of the game.”
Chubb underwent his first surgery on his MCL in late September 2023 11 days after the hit. Chubb then had a second surgery to repair his ACL a month later. The surgeries came 8 years after having to have surgery during his sophomore season at Georgia where he suffered a torn MCL, PCL, LCL, and a dislocated knee during a game against Tennessee.
“I was down mentally for a while,” Chubb said when talking about his initial reaction to his injury. “When you get hurt it's one thing but when you get hurt again and you already know what you have to go through: surgery, rehab, it’s a nonstop battle every day.”
One thing is for sure, if anyone can get through two knee injuries of this magnitude, it’s Nick Chubb
Chubb, who returned to Georgia in their first game the next year after his injury, was asked if this was a similar situation to that when it came to his week 1 availability. “We’ll see, I don’t know.”
Chubb has admitted that he has been able to run and even do some squatting in his rehab process. Chubb has acknowledged that he feels good, but the process remains gradual. While he was hesitant to put expectations on a return Chubb did not completely shut the door on a week 1 return, no matter how unlikely it is.
Watson Does Not Throw In Day Two of OTAs
CLEVELAND – Browns star QB Deshaun Watson did not throw in their second day of OTAs today. While this may come as a concern for Browns fans, Coach Kevin Stefanski reassured the media and fans that this is part of a specific rehab protocol they are following.
“I think he looked like himself to me. I have been able to watch him the last couple of weeks now that we have gotten into phase two, so I’ve seen him throw,” Coach Stefanski said. “He’s making great progress and we will continue to just follow the medical team on this but he looks like himself.”
The organization has been consistent this offseason that Watson is progressing but they will continue to exercise caution and lean on the medical staff to determine how active they will be with Watson this offseason.
“We’re rotating days for now,” Coach Stefanski said when asked about how often Watson will throw during OTAs. “That will change as we get into Mini Camp as we get into Training Camp but for right now he will be throwing every other day.”
Watson has been adamant this offseason in saying that his shoulder is feeling good and has even told the media that he has been able to throw at full speed.
“I’m throwing full-speed, everything is fluid-motion no hinging,” Watson said during his offseason program presser in April. “Everything is fluid the motion is really good the velocity and strength are really good, so it's been going well”
Watson was believed to have suffered his shoulder injury in week 10 vs the Ravens but there is skepticism, even from Watson, that the injury could have happened before then.
Regardless, Watson has started in just 12 games for the Browns since being traded to Cleveland in 2022 and has gone 8-4 in those 12 games. With the new acquisitions of WR Jerry Jeudy and a bolstered receiving backfield, Watson will have some pressure to deliver early despite coming off his shoulder injury.
Browns Select Michael Hall With Pick No. 54.
CLEVELAND - The Browns draft another Buckeye with their first pick in the 2024 draft as they select Ohio State defensive tackle Mike Hall with pick no. 54.
This is the 38th time the Browns have drafted a Buckeye in their franchise's history which is the most out of any school they drafted from with the next closest being Purdue (23).
Hall, 6'2 290 lbs, played 3 years at OSU where he recorded a total of 6 sacks 10 tackles for loss, and 45 total tackles. He was 3rd-Team All-Big Ten Conference and played in 12 games for OSU last season. While it's true Hall did not light up the stat sheet, the Browns front office views Hall as a superior talent.
"The stats are sort of volatile, especially on the defensive line," Browns assistant GM Glenn Cook said, "Sometimes sacks are not indicative, but again it's a production business so we hope he is much more productive than that, but you just hang your hat on the traits and the ability."
Hall is a native of Cleveland Ohio, where he was born in Garfield Heights and began his freshman year at Benedictine High School and then spent the next three years at Streetsboro High School.
When asked about being drafted by his hometown team, Hall responded saying "It's the greatest feeling in the world, ya know?" Hall Continued later in his press conference "You know there's gonna be a lot of pressure on me playing in my hometown, a lot of people are gonna have expectations. But at the end of the day as a player, I still have demands I have to meet and I have to hold myself accountable and try to be the best player I can be."
Hall, who had an 84.8 Pass Rush Grade which was 1st amongst Big Ten DTs, joins a Browns defense that ranked 1st in yards allowed per game (270.2) and first in yards per play at (4.6).
"I mean, Jim (Schwartz) got on the phone with him and gave him a quiz and he was ready to roll," Assistant General Manager Catherine Raiche said when talking about how excited they are to bring in Hall. "He's about to be the engine of this defense, and I'm not gonna use the words that they used, (Schwartz) but let's just say he will 'mess things up' in the front there."
It's safe to say the Browns are very satisfied with their pick and have high expectations of molding Hall into a premier DT in the NFL.
One Big Splash The Browns Could Make That No One Is Talking About
CLEVELAND - The Browns have not had a first-round pick since 2021 when they selected CB Greg Newsome with the 26th overall pick. This year will be no different as their first pick will come in the second round at pick no. 54. So, what will Browns GM Andrew Berry do at 54 or will the Browns be picking at 54?
Andrew Berry is known to be active in trading back in the draft and accumulating picks. Berry was asked at his pre-draft presser when he would know whether he would use the pick or trade down.
"Good question. I will probably have a better feel once we get to ten picks out." Berry says "It really just depends on how the board falls, if I’m being truthful. So, I’m not sure as we sit here today, but we’ll see if we can break the trend of making it three years in a row without a second-round pick.”
Out of the 6 trades Berry has made on draft night, only one of them has been to trade up in the draft: 2021 when the Browns moved from 59 to 52 to select Pro-Bowl Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
While 1 out of 6 doesn't sound promising for fans hoping the Browns will trade up, 2021 proves how intricate Berry is in playing the board to get the best value at positions of need.
The consensus is that the Browns will be looking at wide receiver. Keon Coleman from FSU, Troy Franklin from Oregon, and Ladd McConkey from Georgia have all been linked as potential draft targets. However, there is one name that some may be overlooking: Xavier Worthy.
For years Andrew Berry has been looking for a speed threat to take the top off of defenses. It started in 2021 when he drafted Auburn receiver Anthony Schwartz in the 3rd round who ran a 4.25 at the combine and held the world under-18 best in the 100 meters for track.
While Schwartz had world-class speed, he never translated well to the NFL and struggled with drops. In 2023 Berry decided to double down getting two speed threats in former Olympian track star and veteran wideout Marquise Goodwin and traded a second-round pick for Jets receiver Elijah Moore.
Unfortunately, Goodwin dealt blood clots throughout the year and his time in Cleveland never truly worked out, while Moore failed to live up to the second-round pick he was dealt for. There is still time for Moore to be a pivotal factor in this offense, but he will not be the speed threat that Berry has been longing for.
"Despite maybe how it's looked at times, I love speed," Berry said last offseason when talking to the media about the two acquisitions. "We love speed, and there's probably no general manager or head coach that says they want to be slow on the perimeter necessarily, but when you have an opportunity to add a good player who can really stress the defense with his ability to run, that's an opportunity that we're always going to look to take advantage of."
Xavier Worthy is projected in some mock drafts to go in the first round while some have him falling to the second. While trading up is not Berry's mo, if 2021 proved anything it is that if Berry sees substantial value falling down the board he will take his shot, especially if that value is a record-breaking 4.22 40.
While Berry says he never sees any position group as complete, it would be hard to deny that this group would not be satisfied in all phases. Deshaun Watson would have a true number-one receiver in Amari Cooper, an elite possession/route runner in newly acquired receiver Jerry Jeudy, and a 4.22 speed threat in Xavier Worthy.
Where Will Kevin Love Land?
CLEVELAND- Well, it’s official, 2016 is officially over. Kevin Love and the Cavaliers are nearing a buyout which will make him an unrestricted free agent; leaving him to sign wherever he chooses.
Love’s buyout request came just hours before Wednesday's matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Cavs started flat to start the game which was peculiar given the significance of the game and being as they were riding a 7-game win streak.
The lack of energy from the Cavs became clearer when the report was published that he had requested a buyout. Love has struggled in year 15 shooting only 38.9% from the field and averaging only 8.5 points per game (the lowest of his career).
This led to the Cavs ultimately slashing Love's minutes. However, Kevin Love still believes he has a lot of basketball left in him and wants to go somewhere his services are utilized.
Many teams are already showing interest in Love, but here are a few that make the most sense.
Los Angelas Lakers
The easy and most predictable spot for Love to land. The Lakers struggles from behind the arc have been well-documented this year. The Lakers currently rank 26th in 3-point FG percentage shooting 33.7% from the field. Now, the Lakers have made moves at the deadline to bolster their offense, but none of them are the spot-up three-point shooters that Lebron is used to playing with. At this point in his career, Kevin Love would be a perfect spot up forward who will stretch out defenses and open up lanes for Lebron and Anthony Davis. Love has struggled from three as of late, but even so, if he was added to the Lakers he would still have the 2nd highest season three-point percentage amongst their starters, only behind D’Angelo Russell (39%). Lebron James' championship-led teams are known to have shooters surrounding him at all times. Think of the early Heat teams with Shane Battier and Mike Miller; or his Cavs teams with JR Smith, Channing Frye, and Kyle Korver. Lebron will be lobbying for Rob Pelinka to take a shot on Love.
Phoenix Suns
This is an interesting destination for Love. The Suns acquiring Kevin Durant at the deadline shook the NBA, but it also shook up the Suns roster. The Suns retained their core of stars in Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton, but they lost some key contributors in Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson. Now, a small price to pay for the arguable best player in the league, but leaves some gaps in an already shaky Phoenix bench. The Suns rank as the 11th-best team in bench scoring, which on paper is not bad. However, in their last four games, the Suns have ranked as the 20th-best bench in the league. A steady decline could be the only thing that could keep them from a championship. Kevin Love would give the Suns a scoring weapon off the bench with Finals experience. If Kevin Love wants another shot at a title, as well as playing time, Phoenix would be a good fit.
Dallas Mavericks
This may be surprising to some, but this could be a great match with the Mavs. Similar to Lebron, Luka Doncic thrives on playing inside out, hitting his spot-up shooters on the wings. Also, similar to the Suns situation with Durant, the Mavs had to give up one of their premier scorers in Spencer Dinwiddie but gained a much more powerful offensive threat in Kyrie Irving. However, the Mavs also lost a key piece in stretch forward Dorian Finney Smith. Finney-Smith averaged 5.4 three-point attempts per game, which was the third most, only behind Spencer Dinwiddie and Luka Doncic. Finney-Smith was not a primary scoring threat for the Mavs offense, only averaging 9.1 points per game, but he was an important outlet for Doncic. This would be a perfect scenario for both Love and the Mavs. Love gets the minutes he is searching for while being a vital part of the offense, and the Mavs get an upgrade at their stretch forward position in Love to go along with Max Kleber, Reggie Bullock, and Christian Wood.
Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies have taken the NBA by storm this year with their young core. Currently, the Grizzlies sit as the second seed in the Western Conference and are primed for a playoff run. However, they may need some reinforcements as far as shooting, and their bench is concerned. Right now the Grizzlies bench is ranked 22nd in bench scoring and is ranked 24th in three-point percentage shooting at only 36.4%. The only players shooting above 40% from three are Desmond Bane and newly acquired Luke Kennard, who has played just two games with the Grizzlies. If the Grizzlies look to capitalize on a potential championship run, now might be the time to do it. Love would not only give them a much-needed boost off the bench, but he would also give them championship experience that would help them in the playoffs. Having a stretch forward to go with Ja Morant could open up the offense and even help Morant become more of a distributor.
Why The Cavs Win Last Night Meant More Than People Think.
CLEVELAND- The Cavs decided they wanted to win the game and the fight last night as they beat down on the 2-seed Memphis Grizzlies in dramatic fashion.
Late in the third quarter Donovan Mitchell and opposing guard Dillon Brooks got into a heated exchange after Dillon Brooks seemingly took a cheap shot at Mitchell below the belt. Benches cleared and both Brooks and Mitchell were ejected.
Now, on paper, losing Mitchell may have spelled doom for the Cavs heading down the stretch in a close game, but it was just the opposite. The Cavs had a combined 6 players over double-digit point totals and shot a combined 53.8% from the field and 48.3% from three.
Maybe it was the team galvanizing after the cheap shot to their running mate, maybe the Cavs were tired of the losing skid they were on and were destined to break it, or maybe this Cavs team is on the edge of figuring it out.
There is no question that the Cavs had a different energy after the Mitchell ejection, but they were also poised and collected despite the high rise of emotions.
“Sometimes people mistake our kindness for weakness,” said head coach JB Bickerstaff when asked how his team was able to handle their emotions “We don’t have those brash, trash-talking, instigating type of guys. But What our guys are is physically and mentally tough.”
The Cavs figured out a lot of issues that have been plaguing them in this game. The bench finally started to compliment the starters despite not being fully healthy.
Cedi Osman and Ricky Rubio combined for 34 points off of the Cavs bench. Osman continued his red-hot shooting, but the story is Rubio.
The Cavs were seemingly in wait-and-see mode with their bench awaiting Rubio's return to the court. It was a slow start for Rubio, but he finally started to look like the piece that will bolster the Cavs bench. However, it does not stop at Rubio.
Jarrett Allen’s troubles against opposing centers have been well noted; mainly his inability to take advantage of smaller matchups. Allen has played the Cavs out of games recently and has not looked like the All-Star Cavs fans have been accustomed to seeing, but last night he asserted himself when the Cavs needed him most. Allen was what the Cavs needed offensively and defensively.
Allen finished with a stat line of 18-4-11 and capped it off with 2 Blocks. The impact he had with Darius Garland in the pick-and-roll game was seemingly impossible for the Grizzlies to stop; a big reason why Garland was able to rack up his 11 assists to go along with his 32-point effort.
One game out of Donovan assuring Cavs fans that “the sky is not falling” they put together a complete game on both sides of the ball against a top team in the west. There have been plenty of question marks throughout the year that is gradually being answered as the Cavs continue towards the All-Star break, but this win seemed as if the Cavs were pushing all the right buttons.
“I think it helped us a lot actually” Said Garland when asked about how their emotions carried them “we were locked in focused on getting a win instead of focusing on other things."
Silencing the noise for a team this young is an impressive feat. This win could have an impact further than just one game. Do not be surprised if this leads to a major run for this young Cavalier team.
3 Offseason Moves the Browns Should Consider Making This Offseason
CLEVELAND- Another offseason filled with a lot of questions looms over Cleveland once again. This may be one of the most important offseason for the Browns if they want to have any chance at contending for a Super Bowl.
Discipline was the keyword associated with the Browns all season, mainly the lack of it on the defensive end. Jim Schwartz was a good start, given his pedigree and his track record of coaching great defenses. But the Browns still need veteran pieces on the field to uphold Schwartz’s standard.
There is plenty of key offensive/defensive pieces with Super Bowl experience, who have been a part of some great offenses/defenses. Here are a few that the Browns should be looking into:
Fletcher Cox
Cox would be an upgrade to a DT room that desperately needs it. Fletcher Cox is an All-Pro defensive tackle with a history of taking away the run and getting after the QB. Cox, 32, was a part of a Philadelphia defense that ranked #2 in the NFL in total defense and #1 in team sacks this regular season. Cox also has an impressive resume in his own right.
-Super Bowl champion (LII)
-First-team All-Pro (2018)
-3× Second-team All-Pro (2014, 2015, 2017)
-6× Pro Bowl (2015–2020) NFL 2010s All-Decade Team PFWA All-Rookie Team (2012)
-First-team All-American (2011) First-team All-SEC (2011)
Fletcher Cox has been one of the best defensive tackles of his generation, and he is still playing at a high level. This season he racked up 7 sacks, along with 41 total tackles; more sacks and tackles than he had in his pro-bowl year in 2020. Fletcher Cox can be the perfect counterpart to Myles Garrett to help him maximize his potential, similar to the Cam Heyward and TJ Watt duo in Pittsburg. The Eagles are loaded at defensive tackle right now with rookie stud Jordan Davis, Fletcher Cox, and Javon Hargraves. However, Cox and Hargraves are set to hit free agency this year. Hargraves, 29, is listed as the best defensive tackle to hit free agency in 2023. The Eagles would much rather pay for the younger Hargraves over Cox. Insert the Browns: Fletcher Cox may not be cheap, but he also won’t break the Browns bank. The Browns are in desperate need of veterans and contributors on defense, and Cox would be a perfect fit.
Lavonte David
Lavonte David is another veteran who brings plenty of pedigree and is still playing at a high level. His resume may not be as loaded as Cox, but he still has had an impressive career in his own right.
-3 All-Pro teams
-1 Pro Bowl appearance
- Super Bowl LV Champ 2020
David racked up 116 tackles, and 3 sacks, and was the leader of a Tampa Bay defense that ranked #8 in total defense. His stats compared very similarly, if not better, to the two Pro Bowl Linebackers that got the nod over him for the Pro Bowl (San Francisco Linebacker Fred Warner & New Orleans Linebacker Demario Davis). David was also a big reason why Tom Brady captured his 7th Superbowl in 2020, leading a Bucs defense that was the top of the league over a loaded Chiefs offense. The Browns have a ton of youth at their linebacker spots that could use a strong veteran voice like David. Anthony Walker filled this role partially last year, but injuries and playing time prohibited him from being the consistent voice the Browns defense needed. Lavonte David is an instant plug-and-play for the Browns. The market for David this offseason may not be as lucrative strictly given his age, which means the Browns may be able to get him on a team-friendly deal.
Brandin Cooks
The Browns defense needs a ton of help, but their offense still needs some finishing touches, and Cooks would be the perfect addition to their offense. There have been rumors of the Browns reuniting Watson with his former #1 target Deandre Hopkins after Hopkins had requested a trade after a frustrating regular season with the Cardinals. This type of move looks good from a pure talent standpoint, but financially it would not make a lot of sense for the Browns. Paying Hopkins would mean not being able to fill some of the gaps the Browns need to fill on defense. Cooks could be a good alternative. Cooks and Watson played together in Houston during the 2020 season. During their time together Watson was putting together a career year leading the NFL in nearly every passing category. Cooks was Watson’s #1 target hauling in 81 balls for 1,150 yards in just 15 games. Since Watson’s departure, Cooks still leads the Texans wide receivers and seems to have a lot more left in the tank. Cooks was rumored to be a potential target for the Browns during the season after Cooks requested a trade from the Texans. A deal could not get done during the season, but Cooks will likely double down on his desire to leave Houston. Cooks did sign an extension with the Texans coming into the season, in which he would be set to get paid $18,000 for the 2023 season. However, it sounds like if the Texans get a good enough offer, they would be willing to eat some of Cooks' contract. This and the possibility of reworking Cooks’ contract could be too good of an opportunity to pass up. Cooks has played with some of the best offenses led by some of the best quarterbacks of all time. He would be a valuable piece for Watson and this offense.
It is clear that the Browns need to make some major moves this offseason, these three moves could put them over the edge in the AFC North.
Can The Cavs Survive Without Mitchell?
CLEVELAND- If you were to take a survey of Cavs fans on what they have thought of Donovan Mitchell to this point, a majority of them would say he’s been better than advertised.
Mitchell has put together a career year thus far, averaging 28.4 points per game, shooting an average of 48.4% from the field, and currently has the Cavs fighting for a top spot in a loaded Eastern Conference.
It’s safe to say Mitchell’s performance to this point has put him firmly in the MVP discussion, but now it’s time for the Cavs to tread water after Mitchell Sustained a groin injury in the Cavs win Monday vs. the Pelicans on MLK Day.
Darius Garland led the Cavs over the Pelicans pouring in 30 points 11 assists and 6 boards. Garland may have to continue to carry the load like he did Monday if Mitchell misses an extended amount of time, and that very well might be the case.
“I don’t think that Injury just happened last night,” said ESPN beat writer Brian Windhorst. “I think he’s been dealing with it for a little while here, and we’ll see how it responds to treatment.”
Windhorst continued “when you play him that kind of minute load you can expect a fatigue injury, and a groin strain is a fatigue injury. They have a challenging schedule coming up, it is certainly not an ideal time, but they have to play the long game with this one.”
The Cavs are 2-4 without Mitchell on the floor as a whole and are 1-4 with Garland on the floor without Mitchell. This is a small sample size but one many Cavs fans have pointed to as a potential cause for concern for the Cavs.
Garland’s stat lines in the 5 games without Mitchell
MIN - 51/2/6
SAC – 18/2/6
OKC – 13/3/6
DEN – 21/4/8
MEM – 24/5/14
Garland has been streaky, to say the least with Mitchell out of the lineup, but he has also had to adjust more than anyone else in this Cavs offense. This is where Mitchell being out could benefit the Cavaliers in the long run.
Garland has had to sacrifice this season, and while he is still a prolific scorer and distributor, it seems as if he has lost some of the consistency he displayed last year. However, having a ball-dominant guard like Mitchell is likely the main reason behind that.
The biggest obstacle for the Cavs to this point has been getting Garland and sophomore center Evan Mobley acclimated and comfortable in their offense. With Mitchell out, it’s no secret that both of their opportunities will skyrocket.
Garland and Mobley led the Cavs this past Wednesday vs. a scorching-hot Grizzlies team, and took them right down to the wire. A disappointing loss but also an encouraging sign that the Cavs will be fine without Mitchell.
Mobley has shot a combined 17-25 from the field since Mitchell’s injury and brought down a combined 23 rebounds. Garland in his first start since Mitchell’s injury did his share of scoring when he had to, but the encouraging stat was the 14 assists against Memphis.
The Cavs will go as Mobley and Garland go moving forward, but Cavs fans should not panic without Mitchell. This could be what the Cavs need to get them to their highest level of basketball.
Players The Cavs Should Target Before The Trade Deadline
CLEVELAND- The Cleveland Cavaliers are perennial contenders in the Eastern conference once again, but this time they are doing it without arguably the best basketball player to ever live.
The Cavs currently sit in the 4th spot of the eastern conference and have had stretches where they have looked like the best team in the NBA. However, consistency has alluded the Cavs in the first half of the year, but why?
Fans may say it is the lack of offensive production from Sophomore Forward Evan Mobley, or the learning curve between two ball-dominant guards in Garland and Mitchell, but there is one glaringly obvious problem with the Cavs to this point: Their bench.
Currently, the Cavs bench sits at the 5th lowest scoring bench in the NBA through the first half of the year with a total of 1,252 points through 43 games. Now, usually, this would not be cause for concern. Teams that have not just one, but two ball-dominant scorers usually see a decrease in bench points due to the lack of scoring opportunities. However, going into this year the Cavs bench was supposed to be what separated them from the powers that be in the East.
The three teams ahead of the Cavs in the standings (Boston, Brooklyn, and Milwaukee) all rank ahead of the Cavs in total bench points. Now, with the absence of Dean Wade and Ricky Rubio, you could argue that the Cavs bench has yet to hit full form. But, the addition of Rubio will not fix the streaky shooting of Caris Levert or Kevin Love’s struggles from behind the arc.
With the Cavs having their young core locked up for the next few years, now is the time to start thinking about pieces they could add to put them over the top in the East and capitalize on their championship window.
Here are a few targets that the Cavs should inquire about before the NBA trade deadline:
Bojan Bogdanovic
Now, the Pistons just reworked Bogdanovic’s deal and extended him to a two-year deal worth $39.1 million. The pistons have come out and said they reworked the deal because they wanted to hold onto Bogdanovic, but they may just be using that as a bargaining chip in trade talks. It does not make a whole lot of sense for the 2nd to last team in the East to hang onto a 33-year-old forward, especially when they can utilize him to conglomerate some young talent. This is where the Cavs step in. This is the perfect fit for the Cavs who need a ton of scoring help. Bogdanovic is averaging 21.2 points per game, which is the highest in his career and is shooting 42.2% from three. He is a guy you can plug in the starting lineup or bring off the bench. He can play as a small forward or a stretch power forward which gives the Cavs some flexibility with defensive matchups. His contract makes him available to the Cavs for the next two years and will not hurt their pockets too much if they let Kevin Love go after this year. The Cavs also may be a perfect trade partner for the Pistons as well seeing as they have a couple of young assets, they may be looking to move in LeVert, Okoro, or Osman.
Scary Terry Rozier
The Shaker Heights kid himself! We all remember having to see Terry in that hideous Celtic green lighting the Cavs up in game 6 of the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals. But now, Rozier is with the Hornets who are struggling and currently sitting last in the East and may be thinking about a rebuild centered around Lamelo Ball. Rozier is a prolific scorer, he is a ball-dominant guard who has a bag as vast as the ocean. He could replace the isolation scoring the Cavs expected from Caris LeVert but do it more consistently. Rozier is averaging 21 PPG, shooting 41.2% from the field and maintaining 5.3 assists per game. He’s a guy you can go to in crunch time when you need a big bucket. The Cavs have a lot of wiggle room with expiring contracts and young talent to make this work financially. Rozier and Charlotte just reworked Rozier’s deal that locks him up for the next 4 years, which would give the Cavs a solid scoring partner off the bench for Garland and Mitchell for years to come.
Gary Harris
Gary Harris looked as if he was going to be a problem in this league in his first few years in Denver. While his stats have decreased since then, he has still been a viable scoring threat and an important contributor to the teams he has played for. He would add a major scoring element to any championship contender, which is what the Cavs need. Harris would be a low-risk option that could have major benefits in the long run. Coupling him with Rubio will give him the chance to play off the ball and get into a shooting rhythm. If the Cavs are looking for a bang for their buck, Harris could be a good option.
Stop Sleeping, Fantasy Owners, It’s Time To Wake Up Feeling Dangerous.
There are certainly are players to take stock in for fantasy managers in the Cleveland Browns offense this year. But there may be one player going later in drafts that may be flying under the radar.
Baker Mayfield put together a productive year last year leading the Browns to an 11-5 record, and their first playoff birth in since 2002. His progression in Kevin Stefanski’s offense in their first year together was a sight for sore eyes, especially for Browns fans, as their never-ending QB carousel could be coming to a stop.
Now, I know what you are thinking. Despite Mayfield's season, he did not have a stellar fantasy season. Mayfield finished the year with a total of 252.98 fantasy points, which ranked 17th in the NFL among quarterbacks behind Big Ben and Cam Newton; Sorry about that stat Browns fans...
But that why this is a sleeper article, and I think Baker could be trending towards a higher fantasy floor than people think--maybe even a week-to-week starter.
Now, it is not a secret that Mayfield is in a run-first offense, which has been the reasoning for most fantasy owners taking other quarterbacks ahead of him. However, I think this stat may be a tad bit overrated.
In 2020 the Browns ranked 4th in rushing attempts with 495 attempts on the year. The only other teams that had more attempts were the Ravens, Patriots, and Titans, who all had quarterbacks that put up better fantasy numbers than Baker.
Now, with Lamar and Cam that isn’t shocking due to how many points they get on the ground. There is one quarterback on this list who runs an offense similar to Stefanski that was a top 10 fantasy QB just a year ago.
In 2019 Ryan Tannehill took the reigns for the Titans in a year where Derrick Henry burst onto the scene and led the Titans to the AFC title game almost single handily.
Henry had the second-highest fantasy point total by any running back in 2019, and the Titans had 445 rushing attempts as a whole.
That year Tannehill was in a similar scenario as Baker, in an offense that was run happy, playing well, but the fantasy production Just was not there.
Tannehill finished that year just outside the top 20 with 230 fantasy points, but he missed a few games behind Marcus Mariota at the start of the year. Tannehill’s Fantasy numbers would have been right on Par with Mayfield’s 2020 season had he had not missed that time.
Before 2019 people were aware of the threat that Derick Henry posed, but after 2019, it was clear that the Titans were going to impose their will in the run game. Which meant a drop even further for Tannehill right? Not exactly.
In 2020 the Titans attempts went up as predicted, but even with the uptick in attempts, Tannehill was able to find significant fantasy success in an offense that was more run-happy than even the Browns.
Tannehill ranked top-10 in fantasy production among quarterbacks, outranking the likes of Lamar Jackson, Tom Brady, and even rookie phenom Justin Herbert. Tannehill took advantage of teams stacking the box against Henry which, allowed him to utilize targets like AJ Brown, Corey Davis, and even Jonnu Smith.
The comparisons are obvious. Nick Chubb has been great since he stepped onto the NFL field, but this past year showed that he is a superstar in the making, and he does not go down easy.
Teams knowing that they will have to spend a significant amount of time prepping for Chubb, and Kareem Hunt for that matter will open up Baker Mayfield to get the ball to his targets and trust me there are plenty of them.
Yes, he is in a run-happy offense, but Fantasy players are missing the value of having a runner like Chubb in the backfield. It allows them to take the top off defenses which in turn provides more touchdowns and fantasy production for Mayfield.
2020 was a huge step-up year for Mayfield, he improved his touchdown total by 4 and improved his completion percentage by 3%, and upgraded his QBR from a 54.4 to a 72.1, and that was without his best wide receiver and the covid craziness.
With Odell coming back into the fold along with the young talented wide receivers that the Browns have, they have a chance to be a top 5 offense. Mayfield’s current ADP, or average draft position, is in the 12th to 13th round. Mayfield is a low-risk/high reward to get him as your backup.