WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — The pads were finally strapped on Friday, but the practice fields weren't full of the normal sounds of cracking and hitting that are normally heard on the first padded day of training camp.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski called it an "acclimation day," which meant players were wearing pads but weren't going to be going against each other just yet.
"What we're going to do today is really focus on technique," Stefanski said. "Sometimes the pads go on and technique goes out the window, so we're going to spend a ton of time in individuals today, and really tomorrow we'll have what will look like an offense versus defense, padded practice – more so tomorrow.
"Today is a shorter workout in time, but heavy emphasis on individual and high intensity."
The practice was indeed quick and was over after roughly one hour. The only physical portion of it was a special teams period to close practice, when special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone had players practice blocks on return plays.
Because the Browns have one extra week of practice compared to a normal training camp schedule due to their participation in the Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 3, the "ramp-up" period of training camp has been even slower.
It's all an effort to avoid injuries and allow players time to ease into usual training camp intensity.
"I'm used to just getting out there, going full speed and then you can kind of feel that wear and tear on your body," new S Juan Thornhill said. "You start to get super sore when you're going, consistent days, hard back-to-back. But here, it's more like you're practicing hard and then you think you're about to go again, and then it's like a pull back a little bit, let your body recover.
"I really enjoy it, and I feel like it's just going to help us out a lot and keep guys healthy and get us close to the season."
Saturday should be the peak intensity day of the Browns' trip to West Virginia.
The pads will be on again, and this time, players will be allowed to lower their shoulder and dish out some strikes.
"I'm always ready," Thornhill said. "I'm not backing down on hitting."
Here's what else you might've missed Friday in West Virginia.
Check out photos of the team during the fourth day of Training Camp
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
A helmet during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Daylen Baldwin (87) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Tanner McCalister (48) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (51) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (51) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (28) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Daylen Baldwin (87) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback A.J. Green III (38) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (11) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Kellen Mond (7) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (80) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. (80) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Grant Delpit (22) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (28) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Caleb Biggers (39) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Rodney McLeod (26) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive Assistant/Quarterbacks Coach Ashton Grant during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive tackle Trysten Hill (98) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive Coordinator Alex Van Pelt during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Kicker Cade York (3) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (58) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
A microphone during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Jacob Phillips (50) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (5) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tackle Hunter Thedford (60) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
The Browns practice fields during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
General Manager Andrew Berry during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (10) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end Harrison Bryant (88) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4), Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) and Quarterback Kellen Mond (7) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Joshua Dobbs (15) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end Thomas Greaney (81) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive tackle James Hudson III (66) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (89) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Run Game Coordinator/Running Backs Coach Stump Mitchell during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide receiver Ra'Shaun Henry (86) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Assistant Athletic Trainer Maikee Migallos during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (74) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Linebacker Jacob Phillips (50) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea and Wide receiver Ra'Shaun Henry (86) during Day 4 of Training Camp at The Greenbrier on July 28, 2023.
