The Browns returned to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for training camp on a hot summer day for their first training camp practice in front of fans.
Fans greeted players with cheers and dog barks as they took the field for their first practice, wearing helmets and no shoulder pads, since returning from The Greenbrier – where they spent the first week of camp.
Here are observations from the eighth practice of training camp.
Jeudy and Watson's connection
WR Jerry Jeudy, who the Browns acquired via trade with the Broncos over the offseason, participated in team drills for the first time of training camp.
The receiver said before practice that his ability to get mental reps while sidelined made him feel confident about stepping back into the offense. His work on the field during practice only confirmed that notion.
In an early offense-only drill, Jeudy made a nice catch on a high pass from QB Deshaun Watson, keeping his feet in bounds to secure the completion. In a later drill, in which receivers and running backs lined up against safeties and corners, Jeudy caught a ball on a hitch route, turned up field and made a man miss as he picked up a first down.
The duo also made perhaps the play of the day, as Watson launched a deep ball for Jeudy in an 11-on-11 drill. Jeudy made a diving catch for a nearly 40-yard gain, landing just a few yards short of the end zone.
Jeudy's catch earned a big cheer from fans and teammates alike.
"It's nice how accurate he is," Jeudy said of Watson before practice. "I've been watching Deshaun since college, and he always threw a nice ball. Seeing it in person is even more tremendous."
Kickoff practice continues
With the new kickoff rules taking place this season, more eyes will be on the play as the preseason games take place.
The Browns began practice by working on kickoffs, using the JUGs machine to simulate the kickoff before K Dustin Hopkins stepped in to manually kick the ball off.
RB Pierre Strong Jr., WR James Proche II, RB John Kelly Jr., RB Jerome Ford, WR Jaelon Darden, WR Jamari Thrash and WR Ahmarean Brown all took reps at returning kicks.
"It continues to progress with that play and see how it feels for our guys," Stefanski said after practice last Friday. "I know around the league, you may not see everything that people are going to do [during preseason games]. You'll see the play in its purest form, I guess, but people are going to certainly hide some things and not show things until the season gets going."
Myles Garrett returns to practice
For the first time of training camp, DE Myles Garrett was a participant in practice Sunday afternoon. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year would occasionally step in to drills without a helmet over the course of camp, but Sunday marked the first practice for Garrett in which he participated in defensive line drills and individual drills.
Garrett was never on the PUP or NFI lists, meaning he would be able to jump in and out when the coaching staff felt appropriate. Stefanski said that they planned on ramping Garrett up appropriately as the defensive end looks to build off an incredible season last year.
"He was born in a lab," fellow DE Za'Darius Smith said before practice. "He's different."
Check out photos of the team during the eight day of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
CrossCountry Mortgage Campus during Day 8 of Training Camp on August 4, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) and Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Pro Scout D'Qwell Jackson and Joe Haden during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Joe Haden on the set of Training Camp Insiders during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. (28) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and the offense during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Chris Williams (98) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (60) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator Bubba Ventrone during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Matt Landers (89) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Defensive end Za'Darius Smith (99) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Safety Vincent Gray (31) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Fans during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during Day 8 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 4, 2024.
