The Browns were treated with a beautiful day to spend at practice Tuesday, with the summer heat retreating and sending the reminder that fall – and with it, the NFL regular season – is quickly approaching.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the team would apply a "regular season schedule" during the days leading up to their preseason finale in Seattle, meaning Tuesday's practice was focused on game planning for first and second down situations and Wednesday's for third downs.
"Just really conditioning our bodies, conditioning our minds to be ready to get through a regular season schedule," Stefanski said ahead of Tuesday's practice.
Here are today's observations from training camp.
QB Deshaun Watson displays accuracy
Browns QB Deshaun Watson made several impressive throws during Tuesday's practice. While players did not wear shoulder pads and reps were not at full speed, Watson was able to fit his throws into tight windows.
In the first 11-on-11 drill of the day, Watson rocketed a pass in between two Browns defenders as TE Jordan Akins made a nice sliding catch to secure a first down. The two connected a few plays later in a similar fashion, with Watson hitting Akins in the numbers despite the tight end facing double coverage.
Watson also had a few deep completions, finding WR Elijah Moore for a long gain in 11-on-11's and nearly connecting with WR Jerry Jeudy on a deep ball at the sideline. Jeudy secured the catch but did not keep his feet in bounds.
"It's about communication," Jeudy said on his developing chemistry with Watson. "We stay communicating with each other. I pick his brain a little bit, where he wants me to be in certain routes, in certain situations. And I consistently ask him questions, what he thinks about my route. I think that's the biggest thing since I haven't had much repetition on the field."
DE Za'Darius Smith makes splash plays
In his second practice back after suffering a knee contusion earlier in training camp, DE Za'Darius Smith seemed to pick up right where he left off.
In 11-on-11's, Smith blew by the offensive line and dodged Watson for a would-be sack.
Stefanski said Tuesday that all Browns starters should expect to play, although the team will evaluate who plays and who sits on a player-by-player basis.
Smith said that he would like to see some action against Seattle as he prepares for the regular season.
"It's getting me ready for the regular season," Smith said of getting preseason reps. "I'm going into year 10. I haven't had practice in two weeks, so for me to go out there and hopefully get some reps this Saturday will be big for me and for our football team."
Tuesday marked the first time the defensive end has spoken with the media since going down with a knee contusion on Aug. 4. Smith said that he collided knees with an opposing blocker on a full speed drill and was thankful that it wasn't a serious injury.
"So many thoughts were going through my mind, but I'm just glad it was a knee contusion, man, and I'm happy to be back," Smith said.
Injury report
There have been no changes made to the Browns active/physically unable to perform and active/non-football injury lists, both of which can be found here.
T Germain Ifedi returned to practice after sustaining a hand injury in the Browns' second preseason game against the Vikings on Saturday. TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden was back at practice after jogging off the field with trainers during the game against the Vikings. LB Tony Fields II returned to the practice field for the first time since Aug. 1.
WR Amari Cooper did not practice Tuesday but participated in the team's walkthrough period towards the end of practice. TE David Njoku and DE Alex Wright also did not practice.
CB Denzel Ward and DT Maurice Hurst II did not practice. Ward has not practiced since Aug. 12, and Hurst left practice Aug. 15 with an injury.
Stefanski said Hurst was "getting better" but "not ready to practice just yet."
WR David Bell, LB Nathaniel Watson and S Ronnie Hickman continue to miss practice since sustaining injuries against the Packers Aug. 10. LB Jordan Hicks has not practiced since Aug. 4.
