The Browns have returned to Ohio where they will continue to get ready for the regular season as they resume training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus in Berea.
With final cuts to the 53-man roster scheduled for Aug. 27, showing out in training camp and the preseason is crucial for those on the bubble of making the roster.
Here are three players to keep an eye on for the remainder of training camp:
WR David Bell
The Browns boast one of the deepest wide receiver rooms in the NFL, with Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore and Jerry Jeudy all recording 600 or more receiving yards last season and a promising group of young receivers, including 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman and 2024 fifth-round pick Jamari Thrash.
The Browns carried six wideouts on their initial 53-man roster last summer and currently have 12 on their training camp roster, meaning that the competition for the final few spots is fierce.
One player who has turned heads at camp so far is third-year receiver David Bell, who ended Friday's practice at The Greenbrier with a diving touchdown catch.
Bell was selected by Cleveland in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and has appeared in 31 games for the Browns, tallying 38 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns.
Bell's special teams prowess will be important in the former Purdue Boilermaker's path to the 53-man roster. In 2022, Bell was on the field for over 27 percent of the Browns' special team plays but saw that role decrease to over 8 percent in 2023. However, Bell's role on the offense grew in 2023, as he had his most productive season as a pro with three touchdown receptions on 12 fewer targets than he had in 2022.
After Bell's touchdown catch in practice Friday, Stefanski was asked about his impressions of the 23-year-old.
"He has done a nice job, including that last play there," Stefanski said. "That's a really, really impressive catch to end that drill. He's a guy that has proven to be very, very dependable for our football team."
RB Aidan Robbins
The Browns running back room has experienced several injuries since last season's start, including four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb's season-ending knee injury. In addition to Chubb, Nyheim Hines continues to work back from a knee injury, while D'Onta Foreman suffered an injury on Aug. 1 at training camp. He returned to the team but did not practice on Friday.
Chubb and Hines continue to make progress, but their timeline for return is still unclear, meaning the Browns' depth at the position will be critical.
The Browns kept just three running backs on their initial 53-man roster last season and currently have five, including Foreman, on their active roster – excluding those on the Active/Non-Football Injury (Hines) and Active/Physically Unable to Perform (Chubb) lists.
Cleveland signed Aidan Robbins out of BYU as an undrafted free agent in May. The running back had his best season in 2022, rushing for 1,009 yards and adding 10 total touchdowns. In his final year of college, his only with BYU, he rushed 101 times for 485 yards and a touchdown.
Robbins, at 6-foot-2, 237 pounds, is a bruising running back with a speedy upside, clocking a 4.6 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Only two running backs over 6 feet tall clocked better times at the 2024 NFL Combine.
With talented backs in Jerome Ford, who led the Browns in rushing last season, and Pierre Strong Jr., who surpassed 300 total yards for Cleveland last season, special teams abilities will again be important in Robbins' efforts at cementing a spot on the 53-man or practice squad rosters.
Robbins has a chance to see snaps on both offense and special teams as the Browns determine who to keep going into the 2024 season.
Check out photos of the team during the seventh day of Training Camp at The Greenbrier
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) and Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) and Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Monty Gibson during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown (38) and Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Dyshawn Gales (49) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Linebacker Caleb Johnson (48) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) and Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Fullback Giovanni Ricci (44) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (60) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Matt Landers (89) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Vincent Gray (31) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji (74) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Brady Breeze (39) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) and the offense during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) and the offense during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) and Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Fullback Giovanni Ricci (44) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
Wide receiver Jalen Camp (84) during Day 7 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on August 2, 2024.
LB Nathaniel Watson
The Browns made a major addition to their linebacker room with the offseason signing of 10-year pro Jordan Hicks, a Super Bowl champion who has experience in defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's defense.
Their investment in the position did not stop there, however, as the Browns drafted Nathaniel Watson out of Mississippi State in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.
Watson was a six-year player at Mississippi State and was named the 2023 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year after a 10-sack, 137-tackle season. He also had an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry said after the draft that he saw Watson developing into a versatile linebacker who could play across the defense.
Watson will almost certainly see significant special teams action, building off his experience in college. According to The Athletic's Dane Brugler, Watson played 576 snaps on special teams in college.
Linebackers coach Jason Tarver believes Watson's years of experience in college will be an asset as he develops as a pro.
"Nathaniel's really good in that he's played all positions of football," Tarver said during training camp. "He's played on the edge, he's played offense, he's played defense. And so, he knows the game of football and he sees and feels football. And he's been really good at not making the same mistakes twice."
