CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns will get out on the grass for the first time this week in Phase III of the offseason program, and a number of veterans are expected to attend.
The club will hold three organized team activity practices this week, Tuesday through Thursday, and four next week, Monday through Thursday.
Practice will be open to the media on Wednesday each of the next two weeks, but the sessions might not include some of the biggest name players on the team such as Baker Mayfield, Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, and others with solid roster spots. Although Garrett posted a photo on Instagram of himself boarding a plane Saturday night with the caption “Tell Stefanski we on the way.’’
Veterans who attend, especially this week, will largely be players who’ve had limited playing time in the NFL and can benefit from the teaching-oriented nature of the sessions.
The Browns are in a unique situation because they’re trying to balance the desire or need to be at OTAs with the wishes of center JC Tretter, the president of the NFLPA who helped spearhead the initial decision on the part of players from 21 teams to skip the voluntary workouts in the interest of staying healthy and safe throughout the season.
As it was, the Browns had their rookies and a few veterans at their facility for limited on-field work last week, and one of them tested positive for COVID-19. Several others were identified as close contacts and sent home to quarantine for about five days. All are expected back on the field this wee.
But as defensive tackle Andrew Billings, who took the COVID-19 medical opt-out last season, told Cleveland.com recently, the players have stuck together throughout this decision-making process, and have also worked closely with the coaching staff to come up with a plan that works for everyone.
The players who need it most will get on-field instruction over the next two weeks, and then the whole team will show up for the mandatory minicamp June 15-17 unless the NFLPA gets the minicamps eliminated, which seems increasingly unlikely.
Another passing camp on the books
In a perfect world for the coaches, Mayfield and the skill players would be at all of the OTAs, but they already conducted one well-attended passing camp at House of Athlete in Weston, Florida, last month, and are planning another one for sometime in July. Players such as Mayfield, Landry, Rashard Higgins, David Njoku and Austin Hooper attended the first one, and others such as rookie Anthony Schwartz, who’s been working out there with Landry this offseason, are likely to attend.
In addition, Njoku and Hooper will attend Tight End University in Nashville, a summit for players at the position organized by San Francisco’s George Kittle and Kansas City’s Travis Kelce.
So, what they starters might miss during OTAs, they can make up in their own workouts and during the mandatory minicamp June 15-17. With the efficient practice that Kevin Stefanski runs, the Browns will be able to make up for lost time during minicamp and training camp, which begins around July 31st. The Browns are confident they’ll be ready to roll when training camp begins.
Grant Delpit, Odell Beckham Jr., Greedy Williams all expected to be full-go for training camp
Delpit said on a Zoom conference this week that he expects to be full-go for training camp coming off the ruptured Achilles, and he’s not the only one. Beckham is expected to be full-go in camp coming off of his torn ACL surgery in November, and Williams is slated to be 100% coming off the season-ending nerve damage in his shoulder suffered on the same day that Delpit went down in camp.
Offensive Chris Hubbard is also expected to be close to full-go after suffering a torn ACL in December.
The strong recovery for Delpit, Beckham and Williams is welcome news for the Browns, who have big plans for all three players this season and are counting on them to be ready to start the season.
The Browns haven’t had any other major injuries or surgeries this offseason. Fifth-round linebacker Tony Fields suffered a foot injury shortly before rookie minicamp, but he’s expected back in time for training camp.
Why no Julio?
The Browns haven’t considered trading for Falcons receiver Julio Jones because they’re happy with their receiver room, are eager for Beckham’s return, and have no desire to take on a $15.3 million contract for a 32-year-old receiver who missed seven games with a hamstring injury last season. They’re optimistic about Beckham’s recovery, and like the diverse skillset in the receiver room.
Despite some national buzz that Cleveland would be a great landing spot for Jones, it’s not happening, just like they won’t be trading for Aaron Rodgers.
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