The Browns held their final practice at The Greenbrier on Friday before heading back to Ohio, where they will continue training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus with their next practice scheduled for Aug. 4.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski views the second year of The Greenbrier as a success.
"Extremely appreciative of the people here at The Greenbrier, the people in West Virginia that take such good care of us," Stefanski said. "It's really a first-class operation and I know our coaches, our staff, our players are extremely grateful to that group."
Stefanski and the Browns were also grateful for the health of RB D'Onta Foreman, who was taken to the hospital following a scary collision on the practice field on Aug. 1. Stefanski called the situation "very, very scary" and gave credit to the Browns medical staff for their treatment of Foreman.
It is unclear when Foreman will be able to return to the field, but Stefanski said that the running back was getting plenty of rest.
WR Elijah Moore exited the practice field on Friday and is being evaluated for a concussion, Stefanski said.
Quarterback updates
QB Deshaun Watson did not throw Friday, something Stefanski said was part of the quarterback's protocol as he recovers from an offseason shoulder injury. The head coach said Watson looked sharp when he has had opportunities to throw the ball and was heavily involved in Friday's practice despite not being a full participant.
"He's done a nice job throughout the days that he's throwing," Stefanski said. "He's doing really well, he's focused, locked in. Even today, I'm proud of him for being in the huddle, giving coaching points. I think that's a huge part of this as the starting quarterback is even on a day like this where he gets an off day throwing, it's not an off day from a leadership perspective, and he did a nice job."
Watson sitting out gave QBs Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley and Dorian Thompson-Robinson more opportunities to work on earning a roster spot. Stefanski said he looked forward to preseason games, which will provide an even more definitive look into where players stand in the race to make the 53-man roster.
Winston and the offense ended practice by scoring a touchdown in a two-minute drill.
"I thought Jameis in particular, obviously scored a touchdown there and got his team in the end zone and operated really well," Stefanski said.
Thompson Robinson, who the Browns selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Huntley have also impressed Stefanski over the course of camp.
The Greenbrier reflections
"We've talked a lot about the growth he had in year one and you expect similar growth in year two," Stefanski said of Thompson Robinson. "He's really doing a nice job."
Stefanski said he would have internal discussions over whether the Browns would return to The Greenbrier next year for training camp but emphasized that the team was able to get exactly what it wanted to get done in their nine days in West Virginia.
One new face on The Greenbrier's practice fields this year was coaching and personnel consultant Mike Vrabel, who spent the past six seasons as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Vrabel has worked closely with the tight ends, including 2023 Pro Bowler David Njoku.
"Dave looks healthy. He's making a lot of plays for us in the pass game," Stefanski said. "As an outside linebacker [Vrabel] had a lot of battles with tight ends and can talk to them about blocking techniques and how to release versus an outside linebacker versus six technique, whatever it may be. So, I just think Vrabes has a very natural way with helping tight ends because he literally went against those guys for years."
Injury roundup
DT Shelby Harris missed his third straight practice with an undisclosed injury. Stefanski said the nine-year veteran was "working through some things, but he'll be back."
Stefanski said that he expected DE Myles Garrett and WR Jerry Jeudy to be back on the practice field soon, saying that both were "very close."
Jeudy, who participated in individual drills for the first time of training camp Thursday, has impressed Stefanski in his first offseason with the Browns, as well as his work in individual drills on Thursday.
"I thought he looked good. He moved around well, caught it well," Stefanski said. "Again, a guy who is really locked in on the mental side of this and hasn't missed a day from that perspective and then jumped right in there and I thought looked good."
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah . Stefanski attributed his absence to "the normal nicks and bruises of camp."
RB Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 2 last season, has been working on the side during practice. The four-time Pro Bowler has remained an active leader in the running back room, providing his insight to younger players on the roster.
"When he's not practicing, he has a script in front of him," Stefanski said. "He's ready the plays off to the young guys, keeping them engaged – I think keeping himself engaged as well. There's so much you can cover from a mental standpoint, even when you're not getting those reps, and I think Nick is making sure to make every day count."
