- Hue Jackson indicated last week a change in the quarterback rotation could be in the works for minicamp but the Browns coach ultimately kept it the same Tuesday.
That meant second-year signal-caller Cody Kessler worked primarily with the first team, veteran Brock Osweiler fell behind him and rookie DeShone Kizer was third. Kizer, though, received a number of snaps with first-team offensive linemen and running backs -- much like he did during stretches of OTAs.
"I didn't feel the need to change it yet. It's still way early, right? We're just at the start of minicamp. I said I may and I may not—I didn't for the most part," Jackson said. "That doesn't mean that I won't. But again, this is the first day. We're back out there and guys are flying around. And so I'll go watch the tape and see where we are after today."
Jackson stressed it was far too early to speculate about how the pecking order would look in late July, when the Browns open their 2017 training camp.
"We are just mixing and matching and giving guys opportunities," Jackson said. "As I told you, I am going to find out about our guys, that is what I have to do over these next couple of days before we go to training camp and as we get into training camp."
- The Browns, as a whole, are healthier than they were at the start of their offseason workout program, and that was apparent right from the start of practice.
For the first time since his season-ending foot injury in October, left guard Joel Bitonio participated in on-field drills. Bitonio was active during individual drills but remained on the sidelines during team exercises. Spencer Drango has primarily filled Bitonio's spot during team sessions.
Bitonio, who has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, signed a contract extension in March. He said then his goal was to be at 100 percent by September's season opener.
"I looked out there and saw a whole bunch of guys. Today was a good day," Jackson said. "Good to see all of our players participating. Even the guys that were injured, doing a little more than what they've been doing. Again, I give a lot of credit to (Head Athletic Trainer) Joe Sheehan and his staff, our medical staff and doctors, everybody who deals with our players. I think we've done a really good job.
"My job as a head coach is to get these guys through the OTAs, through the minicamp, and get them to training camp with the best team that we can have, with a healthy football team, so that we can have the best shot at working towards winning. That's what's important."
- Wide receiver Corey Coleman participated in a handful of walkthrough drills but was sidelined throughout the majority of Tuesday's practice with an injury that kept him out of most of OTAs.
Jackson said Coleman is "very close" to returning.
"He'll be ready to go when the time comes," Jackson said. "If we need him to go out there and if I needed to push him, we could. He's closer to playing than he is not to playing. He'll be out there very soon, I anticipate. When we get back, he'll be ready to go. If we decide to take him out there before then, then I'll talk to the medical staff and see where we are."
- No. 1 pick Myles Garrett is being treated like every other rookie on the team and has been tasked to earn his spot with the first-team defense.
Garrett mostly worked with the third-team defense during Tuesday's practice. The same went for safety Jabrill Peppers and defensive linemen Larry Ogunjobi and Caleb Brantley.
"I think everybody's got to earn the right to play and I think we all recognize and understand that sometimes there's certain situations where that's not the case because maybe there's not another player at the position," Jackson said. "We have some other players at that spot, and I think it's only fair that we create an environment where guys earn the right to play. There's some guys that don't have to do that—they walk in and there's nobody at that position and it happens. But on this football team, as long as I'm the head coach here, we're going to earn the right to play for this football team. Nothing's given."
- Garrett plans to go home during the six or so weeks that separate minicamp from training camp, but there won't be much rest budgeted into his schedule.
Garrett, whose family resides in Arlington, Texas, said he'll be "taking on the heat" and "getting some work done." That will include a return to Texas A&M, where Garrett plans to train with one of his old strength coaches and Aggies defensive line coach Terry Price.
He'll be chomping at the bit to get back to Berea by the end of July.
"You have got to make sure you know what you are doing every time you come out here," Garrett said. "It is a job application. You are putting your resume on the line and showing what you want to put out there on film every single day, so you have to make sure you put out something good."
