- The second day of OTAs — which was open to the news media for observation — was a spirited and sometimes chippy session. That, in some ways, was to be expected after head coach Hue Jackson brought on Gregg Williams, the fiery veteran defensive coordinator, this past winter to mold a young but promising defense. The hope, of course, is that such competition can only benefit the Browns come next season.
"I think what you love is guys out there competing and then the camaraderie that everybody has going on on that field," defensive back Jason McCourty said. "Between the offense and defense, we're going at it throughout these first two practices and then we come back into the locker room we're one unit."
- Cody Kessler opened practice as the Browns' No. 1 quarterback, but don't count out Brock Osweiler, Kevin Hogan or rookie DeShone Kizer in what Jackson has described as a "wide open" competition. All four signal callers had moments of both good and bad in Wednesday's practice. As such, Kessler — who said earned the first crack at the team's starting job after marked improvement over the offseason — said now isn't the time to rest.
"There's a sense of confidence you get going into that, but at the same time, I just look at it as an opportunity. The other three guys are great quarterbacks," he said. "It's going to be a really good competition."
Osweiler, who made several nice deep throws, including one strike to Corey Coleman, added: "Anytime you are in a competition with other guys at your position, it brings out the best in you, and it is certainly the best thing for the team because the best player at that position is going to play. Ultimately, that should lead to wins for your football team."
- Speaking of quarterbacks, Osweiler spoke publicly for the first time since being unexpectedly dealt from Houston to Cleveland in free agency. The former Texans starter said he's focused on competing for that same role with the Browns.
"There was a coach that I played for in college and he told me only worry about the things that you can control," he said. "From the time of the trade, that is what I have done, and I couldn't be any more excited to be here. From the day I arrived, you couldn't have been welcomed in a better way."
- Myles Garrett, Jabrill Peppers, Kenny Britt missed Wednesday's practice with various "bumps and bruises." Jackson shrugged it off as all precautionary measures. "I'm just going to be very cautions with guys. You guys know how I have been anytime guys have a little soreness that way," he said. "I want to make sure we are totally healthy."
Garrett, the defensive end and first overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, echoed his coach's sentiment, saying he'll be ready for Week 2 of OTAs. "I want to be out there. They're holding me right now," he said, "but I will be out there going full-tilt next week."
The same thing goes for wide receiver Corey Coleman, who landed awkwardly after a catch late in practice. "He'll be fine. He came down, I think, on the ball a little bit, too," Jackson said, "but I think he will be OK."
- It's still unclear where McCourty might play this season, but the veteran isn't losing any sleep over that dynamic. Instead, McCourty — who spent the past eight seasons in Tennessee — said he's happy to play whatever role Cleveland needs him to, whether that's big, small or somewhere in between.
"I'm just leaving that up to the coaches. Whatever I am asked to do," said McCourty, who played a great deal of cornerback on Wednesday. "I'm just trying to learn as much as possible."
