The Browns are back in action after completing their first official practice of training camp, lasting just under 50 minutes, serving as a way for the players to get acclimated on the first day.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski addressed the media on the opening day of training camp, held at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia.
Here is a breakdown of what the head coach had to say after the first bit of action of Browns training camp.
Play-calling duties and Ken Dorsey's role in the Browns offense
One of the leading questions going into the season surrounded offensive play calling. After hiring Ken Dorsey to be the Browns offensive coordinator, Stefanski had yet to announce who would be taking up those duties.
Stefanski answered that question Thursday afternoon.
"You can tell everybody I'm going to call the plays this year, so we'll get that out of the way," Stefanski said. "I know everybody's interested. Any decision I make for our football team, I take a lot of information in, I try to listen to a lot of people and make decisions."
Stefanski has called the offense since he got the head coaching job in 2020. He expressed his confidence in the offensive coaching staff after announcing his decision for the 2024 season.
"Ultimately, what I feel really, really confident in is our offensive staff," Stefanski said. "I feel really strongly about Coach Dorsey and the entire offensive staff. So, we'll continue to be an operation that works together. It's never been a one-man show."
Stefanski emphasized the lengthy discussions that went into the decision to call plays as well as the sizeable role Dorsey will take in coaching the offense.
"Ken Dorsey is going to be a huge, huge help to me – not just on gameday but throughout the week," Stefanski said. "He has a huge influence on what we do offensively already. The things that we're implementing, things that he's putting together, the way he works with our offensive staff. Those are things that I don't take lightly."
As with any two individuals, Dorsey and Stefanski have already discovered their similarities and, perhaps more importantly, their differences in offensive philosophy. A former standout quarterback at the University of Miami, Dorsey provides a new outlook on how the Browns can find success offensively.
"Ken's played in this league at a high level, played obviously in college at a high level," Stefanski said. "He has a unique perspective from the different guys he coaches. So, there's plenty that we see similarly, but there's also plenty that we push each other on and that's the fun part of working with anybody that you really trust, and you have respect for."
Check out photos of the team conducting their first walk-thru at the Greenbrier before Training Camp
Wide Receiver Amari Cooper (2) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Punter Corey Bojorquez (13) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver and Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Greenbrier Branding during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) and Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Cornerbacks Coach Brandon Lynch during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) and the defensive line during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Treyton Welch (82) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The team during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Coaching Consultant Mike Vrabel during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Tony Fields II (42) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Greenbrier branding during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the offense during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Linebacker Charlie Thomas III (35) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Tight end Treyton Welch (82) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Ahmarean Brown (87) during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Line Coach Andy Dickerson during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry and Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Offensive Assistant/Run Game Specialist Nick Charlton during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Director of Player Personnel Dan Saganey during a walk-thru at The Greenbrier on July 25, 2024.
Deshaun Watson and the quarterback room
Dorsey has coached some of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, working with Cam Newton in Carolina as the quarterbacks coach and in Buffalo with Josh Allen as the passing game coordinator, quarterbacks coach and eventual offensive coordinator.
Stefanski said he thought Dorsey's experience would not only help elevate Watson's game, but also the other quarterbacks on the roster.
"Ken is the main voice in the quarterback room," Stefanski said. "Now, I'm in there every day and listening and adding when I feel appropriate, we have a young coach Ashton Grant is in there and we have veterans in Jameis [Winston] and [Tyler] Huntley, so there's a lot of really strong voices in there. But I do think Ken has a unique perspective and I feel really confident in his ability to impact both the quarterback room but more importantly the offense."
Stefanski said the relationship between Dorsey and Watson is already blossoming, something he said is not surprising.
"Deshaun loves to work. He's pushing off himself and all these guys and Ken has a great way about him both in the meeting room and off the field," Stefanski said.
Injury updates
The seven players the Browns placed on either the active/non-football injury or active/physically unable to perform lists did not practice. The NFI players are RB Nyheim Hines (knee) and CB Greg Newsome II (hamstring) and the PUP players are S D'Anthony Bell (shin), RB Nick Chubb (knee), T Jack Conklin (knee), DT Dalvin Tomlinson (knee) and T Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee).
Stefanski said Newsome underwent hamstring surgery last week and he hopes the cornerback will be ready for the Browns' season opener against the Cowboys on Sept. 8. Tomlinson, who Stefanski said is set to have knee surgery on July 26, is also hopeful to be ready for the first week of the regular season.
RB Jerome Ford missed practice due to a personal matter and is expected to return on Friday, Stefanski said.
Stefanski said that he was unsure whether Watson, who had shoulder surgery over the offseason, would appear in any of the Browns' three preseason games, saying that he would talk to his staff and Watson before making that decision at an appropriate time.
"We'll be smart," Stefanski said. "We're very fortunate to have a great medical team around Deshaun, so we'll continue to make good decisions. He looks great, fees great, so we'll just be smart about it."
