The temperatures warmed a bit in Berea on Thursday, but it will be a drastic change when the Browns land in Tampa on Friday.
Kickoff temperature at Raymond James Stadium is expected to be in the high 80s. And it won't be a dry heat.
Here's the latest after the Browns' final full practice before Saturday's game.
1) Johnny Manziel could be shut down for rest of preseason
The quick turnaround between Saturday's game against the Buccaneers and next Thursday's at Chicago may be too tight to get Johnny Manziel back for the Browns' preseason finale.
Browns coach Mike Pettine confirmed Manziel, who is nursing a sore elbow, would be out Saturday at Tampa Bay, leaving Cleveland with just two quarterbacks for its penultimate preseason game. Though the team added Pat Devlin to the roster earlier in the day, he will only play in an emergency situation against the Buccaneers. Devlin is expected to be ready for the Bears.
"You would have liked for him to get meaningful reps in the Tampa game," Pettine said of Manziel. "The plan was to get him some work, potentially in the second quarter in the Tampa game. That is obviously not going to happen now. He probably would have played a half against Chicago. You can't get those reps back. He will lose out on all that real-game experience. We are very pleased at where he is currently and if we truly felt like he needs to get out there and get these reps this is something we could have worked through, but just felt heading into the season it is a long year.
"Let's go ahead and shut him down and rest it and make sure it is 100 percent once we head to New York."
Manziel was the quarterback for two of the Browns' three touchdown drives so far this preseason. He was 17-of-29 with 160 yards and a touchdown. He's also second on the team with 33 rushing yards and a touchdown.
2) WR Terrelle Pryor itching to play vs. Tampa Bay
The disappointment Pryor felt about the recurrence of his hamstring injury went beyond the football field.
Pryor hasn't seen his son in Pittsburgh since the start of training camp. He'd planned to make the trip during one of the team's off days, but his injury required daily treatment. It wasn't in the cards.
Returning to the practice field Wednesday boosted his spirits. Staying on it Thursday helped a little more. Playing in his first NFL game as a wide receiver Saturday would do wonders.
Pryor said his status will depend largely on how he feels Friday after two consecutive days of practice. His work volume Thursday was higher than Wednesday's.
"I think that's the tough situation right now is that I haven't been on the field," Pryor said. "They see it in practice but we haven't seen it in a game."
Pettine said Pryor's task Saturday, if he plays, is a simple one.
"Just do his job. Just do his job, whatever his job is on that play, do it," Pettine said. "Do it to the best of his ability. We know he's a project, we understand that. We're not expecting him to go out there and light it up and catch ten balls for 150 yards and two touchdowns. Just continue to get better."
3) Devlin drives all night to be with Browns
Pat Devlin was helping out with a high school practice just outside of Philadelphia when the Browns called Wednesday.
He promptly got in his car and made the six and a half hour drive to Berea to sign his contract by early Thursday.
"I'm sore," Devlin joked after Thursday's practice. "But no, I've been trying to stay in shape at home and working out. All the little stuff that you do prepares you to come in and step in and do what you need to do."
The Browns are Devlin's fourth team since 2011. Though he'll be only available in an emergency situation Saturday, he's prepared to play, and play effectively, against the Bears.
"I've bounced around a little bit. I've seen a lot of offenses," Devlin said. "You can relate a little bit of everything although people call the same thing different things in every single offense."
4) Injury roundup
Defensive tackle Phil Taylor was the only new addition to injured players Thursday, as he pedaled on a stationary bicycle during the portion of practice open to reporters.
Taylor, who underwent knee surgery near the end of last season, has not played in either of the Browns' preseason games.
"He is just day-to-day with the tolerance of it," Pettine said. "With guys coming off serious injuries like that, you really leave it up to them. How does it feel? If it doesn't feel right, we are not going to force them, especially this time of year."
Pettine said he expects DB Joe Haden and DB Tashaun Gipson to be active after missing last week's game. Haden has yet to play this preseason.
Pettine said K'Waun Williams (abdominal) would likely be available if it were the regular season, and there's a chance he'll be back for the Chicago game.
5) Other notes and quotes
-- Pettine said rookie offensive lineman Cameron Erving's attitude has been "great" even though John Greco has maintained his hold on the starting job at right guard.
"You can tell that's one of the reasons he's here – he loves to play football, loves to be out there, smile on his face," Pettine said. "I think he is a team guy through and through. We're very pleased with where Cam is."
-- RB Shaun Draughn (hand) is expected to play Saturday on special teams but likely won't handle the ball, Pettine said.
"That is one where time goes on with him the cast can get smaller and smaller," Pettine said. "We are hopeful by Week 1 that it will be to the point where he could handle the ball if he had to."
