Football, as Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski put it Saturday morning ahead of the third practice of training camp, is a physical sport.
The Browns – and every Pop Warner, high school, college and professional team – know this and know this well. Last season, the injury bug hit the Browns hard with star RB Nick Chubb suffering a torn ACL in Week 2, QB Deshaun Watson ending his 2023 campaign early with a shoulder injury and several others missing time throughout the season.
However, they have all taken important steps in their individual recoveries in preparation for the 2024 season. Here are some of the latest injury updates and progression of players Stefanski gave before the third practice of training camp.
Deshaun Watson
Watson played just six games for the Browns last season before having surgery on his injured shoulder. The quarterback spoke in part on July 26 about the challenges he has overcome in working to get back on the field.
During the first three days of training camp, Watson threw seemingly without any limitations, a positive sign as the quarterback looks to play his first full season of football since 2020.
Stefanski said Saturday that Watson would continue to throw once padded practices begin, saying that they might decrease his workload at times throughout camp, but that "he's done a nice job" in working through his recovery.
However, once Watson sees live game action – whether it be in the preseason or against the Cowboys in Week 1 – Stefanski knows that there is a chance the quarterback's shoulder will get hit by the opposition.
"It's inevitable in this game of football. It's a contact sport, so (Watson's) certainly aware of that," Stefanski said. "He's played this game for a long time. So, I think for him, it's understanding those avoidable hits, when you can take care of yourself, when you can slide, when you can get out of bounds, those types of things, but also knowing that this is the game of football. It's physical and he doesn't shy away from that at all.
"So, we're not going to put him through a tackling drill," Stefanski continued. "But we'll make sure that he's in position to protect himself when he can and also know to protect himself when he's at the end of a run or maybe there's a play that you have to eat the ball and protect the ball."
Nick Chubb
Chubb went viral earlier in the offseason when he posted a video to social media of himself squatting an immense amount of weight. Following Friday's practice, Chubb made headlines when he was seen running sprints post-practice.
While squatting over 500 pounds or running sprints doesn't directly correlate with being able to return to the grid iron, Stefanski said that he has been pleased with Chubb's progression as he recovers from his knee injury.
"I've seen him run and seen him work out and he's right where he needs to be," Stefanski said. "As we've talked about all along, he's attacking this rehab. He's in early, staying late. I give a lot of credit to Nick and a lot of credit to our medical team that are bringing him along but we're not going to worry about much past today with that."
Chubb, a four-time Pro Bowler, has earned a reputation amongst his teammates for his dedication to hard work. His battle back from injury has only strengthened what his colleagues already know.
"This is nothing he can't handle," Stefanski said. "It's adversity, it's what as a team we talk about. You want to thrive and persevere through adversity, and I think that's what they're seeing Nick do."
Dalvin Tomlinson
DT Dalvin Tomlinson had a knee scope procedure on Friday and the Browns are unsure whether the seven-year NFL starter will be ready for the start of the regular season.
"Everything went well," Stefanski said of the surgery. "So, Dalvin is doing well."
Nyheim Hines
RB Nyheim Hines, who tore his ACL in a jet ski accident during the summer of 2023, could have a major role in both the backfield and as a kick returner for the Browns this year. Stefanski said he was impressed with Hines' work in recovery but was unsure of when he would be back to full strength.
"I don't have an update on exactly when (he will return), but another guy that's done everything we've asked him to do, he's working very hard, we'll see when he comes off (the Non-Football Injured list)," Stefanski said.
Jerry Jeudy and David Njoku
Both WR Jerry Jeudy and TE David Njoku started the first two practices of camp working off to the side. Stefanski said that Jeudy is ramping up and close to returning. Njoku practiced on Saturday for the first time in training camp.
