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.