When the 2024 NFL schedule was released in May, WR Jerry Jeudy looked at the Browns schedule and saw an earlier December matchup he took mental note of. Now, almost seven months later, the Browns are set to play that game.
Cleveland will travel to Denver and face the Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 13, with Jeudy making his return to face his former team for the first time since he was traded to Cleveland.
"You always want to be the opposing team that you used to play for. That's just the competitive nature of us athletes," Jeudy said. "I feel like it's a game that we need to win."
The Browns acquired Jeudy in a trade with the Broncos in March 2024, then signed him to a 3-year extension just six days later. Jeudy spent the first four years in Denver, totaling 211 receptions for 2,053 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
In his first season with the Browns, Jeudy has established himself as one of the top receivers in their receiving corps. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Jeudy runs his routes well with a versatile route tree and plays with a savviness to his game. He's able to create separation from defensive backs and catches the ball well.
"We know his skill set," Stefanski said. "He's done a nice job. I mean, he's catching short throws and turning them into long gains. He's catching balls down the field. So, he's doing a nice job. He also has made a lot of plays in scramble drill since we've had him, and I think he has an ability to shake open. He's done a nice job."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Denver Broncos at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown and Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) and Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive tackle Michael Dunn (68) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Center Cameron Tom (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Monty Gibson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Marcus Haynes (98) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive tackle Jowon Briggs (97) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end James Houston (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson G. Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 29, 2024.
This season, Jeudy has a total of 45 receptions for 645 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He's averaging 14.3 yards per catch, and his longest reception was an 89-yard catch in Week 11 against the Saints.
Offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey said they've been able to move Jeudy around on the field, playing him inside, outside or in the slot. Having that flexibility is crucial for the Browns offense, and Dorsey said Jeudy's understanding of coverages as well as his feel for the game benefits the ability to move him around.
He's also developed a chemistry with QB Jameis Winston over his four starts at the helm of the Browns offense. In those four games, Jeudy is averaging 94.8 receiving yards per game. He also recorded one touchdown. Jeudy said he's built that chemistry with Winston through communication. They've discussed different aspects of what they each want on the field and have been able to develop an understanding of one another.
"He's got the ability to run with speed, get in and out of cuts, great body control and wiggle in his routes to where he could kind of give the defensive back a little bit of something and then still be able to get in and out of cut," Dorsey said of Jeudy. "So, I do think that he's really grown as the year has gone on, not only in just number of catches, but confidence. And I think that's confidence for him, but also the quarterbacks, I think have a ton of confidence in him as well to give him those opportunities."
Jeudy's versatility as a receiver has been a part of his game going back to the early days of his career. He said he's always harped on the little details and strived to be the player who could be anywhere on the field, from the backfield to in the slot, to the outside receiver or the third receiver.
Yet, he believes that versatility is being showcased more this season in the Browns offense, which is leading to his success on the field.
"I just pride myself in being that guy," Jeudy said. "And now, I'm being used as that guy."
Stefanski said when a receiver has the level of versatility that Jeudy possesses, it complicates the job of the opposing defensive backs.
"You go into a matchup with a receiver, as a DB, you're thinking about the routes that he can run and if it's a limited route tree, it makes it easier to defend," Stefanski said. "When it's an expanded route tree like Jerry (Jeudy), it makes it more difficult because I think his first catch of the night last week was on a slant route, and it went for 20 yards, whatever it was, and then making plays down the field as well. I think that just makes life more difficult for the DBs because they have to cover the entire field."
One of those defensive backs Jeudy could see is CB Pat Surtain II, who Jeudy has practiced against both in college at the University of Alabama and at the Broncos. Surtain separates himself from other cornerbacks in the league with how smart he is, Jeudy said. Surtain has length and is fast, and Jeudy said Surtain knows how to use his ability to stop and adjust to his advantage.
The two could line up across from one another on Monday Night Football, under the lights at Empower Field at Mile High. And it's a potential matchup that Jeudy is anticipating as part of his return to face his former team.
"Finally getting the opportunity to go against him on this big stage, it's going to be fun," Jeudy said.
