Whenever Browns players have been asked about QB Jameis Winston this season, they have emphasized his consistency, his high-energy personality and his unmatched leadership ability.
With Winston set to face his former team in the Saints in Week 11, his old teammates shared similar sentiments about the 10-year veteran's character.
"He's one of the greatest teammates I've ever had in my life," Saints QB Derek Carr said. "I love Jameis. I texted him the week when he hit the game winner and all that and said, 'Man, it couldn't happen to a better person.' He's an amazing teammate, an amazing friend he was to me in our time here and I always root for him. He's a guy that you just always root for."
Winston was named the Browns starting quarterback ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Ravens. He threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns and led the Browns to their first win since Week 2.
"He gave them a huge boost in that Baltimore game," Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi said. "He's got that big play ability. He's got an unbelievable leadership quality. He's just a natural leader. So, when you infuse that, he did the same thing when he was here. He's an easy guy to follow."
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New Orleans Saints at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
A football during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Lining up next to Winston will be RB Nick Chubb, who will play in his fourth game this season after returning from a knee injury sustained in Week 2 of the 2023 season. On the season, Chubb has 42 carries for 113 yards and a touchdown.
Saints defensive coordinator Joe Woods, who spent three seasons as the Browns defensive coordinator from 2020-22, said he respected Chubb's quiet dedication to hard work.
"I still haven't heard him talk and I was there for three years," Woods joked on Thursday. "He doesn't say nothing, he's a grinder. He's one of those backs where it's 2 yards, 4 yards, 5 yards, 2 yards, boom, he hits a 20- or 30-yarder. He's one of those backs who runs behind his pads. I see the quickness in his movement, watching him run."
On the other side of the ball, a player who Woods spent three seasons coaching is looking to continue his strong start to the 2024 season.
DE Myles Garrett has seven sacks on the season – tied for the seventh-most in the NFL – and 48 quarterback pressures – the third-most in the NFL. The Saints are well aware of the immense challenge of going against the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.
"[Garrett] is one of the best players in the world. I've played against him a few times and I just have the utmost respect for him," Carr said. "He runs the show. You watch him play and you just admire it, you honor it, you respect it and then you get excited about competing against him. Because a guy like that, he'll be a Hall of Famer and those are the matchups you look forward to going against."
Check out behind the scenes photos of the 2024 Browns Team Photo
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Behind the scenes of the 2024 Team Photo at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 5, 2024.
Garrett is looking for his first win against a Carr-led team, having faced Carr three times when he was on the Raiders in 2018, 2020 and 2021.
The eight-year veteran is part of a fearsome defensive line that has posted the third-highest quarterback pressure rate at 40.7 percent and the fifth-highest sack percentage at 8.8 percent this season.
"It's a damn good defensive line all across the board," C Erik McCoy said on Wednesday. "Obviously, you've got Myles Garrett, an elite player in the NFL. Dalvin Tomlinson, an elite run stopper. Shelby Harris, been in the league a long time, another really good run stopper. And they do get after people, so it'll be a challenge for us."
Carr has been sacked just six times in his seven starts this season but knows that Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz's aggressive scheme will keep the Saints offense guessing.
"They want to get to the quarterback, stop the run, create negative plays," Carr said. "Linebackers and safeties are good tacklers; their corners are really good players. This is a really good defense that we're about to play. And so, our work is cut out for us, for sure, playing these guys."
