Corey Coleman is confident and, perhaps most importantly, healthy heading into his second NFL training camp.
The Browns wide receiver said he'll return to practice Thursday for the first time since suffering an undisclosed injury in May during OTAs.
"I'm ready to roll," Coleman said. "I got cleared by the trainers, and I'm going to ease my way back into it:"
Coleman, the team's first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, missed a significant portion of offseason workouts after landing awkwardly in practice. It was a frustrating setback for the second-year player whom the Browns hope will emerge as the top receiver following a rookie campaign in which he missed six games with a broken hand. He also missed time in last year's training camp because of a hamstring injury.
"It's like I couldn't catch a break," Coleman said, "but everything happens for a reason and I'm back out there."
Indeed, Coleman said he's feeling at ease in his second season. He said he knows the playbook far better than he did last year and he knows what to expect from the grind of the NFL season.
Earlier this year, Browns coach Hue Jackson challenged Coleman, saying the former Baylor star needs to make the "next jump" after the club parted ways with leading receiver Terrelle Pryor.
"He's worked extremely hard thus far this offseason and he wants to come in and prove that last year was just what it was: his first year in the league and he needed to understand what this league was all about," Jackson said, "and I think he found out very quickly there's more to it than what he knew and he's looking forward it."
Coleman, who caught 33 passes for 413 yards and three touchdowns last season, said he's embraced that order.
"You said it's a challenge, I don't look at it like that," he said. "They drafted me in the first round and the first receiver for a reason. I'm confident in my ability and I know what I've got to do."
