WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Among the clouds and mountains of West Virginia, the Browns took to the practice field at the Sports Performance Center at The Greenbrier for the first day of training camp.
The Browns will spend the next eight days at The Greenbrier to kick off the first week of training camp for the 2024 season.
They quickly went to work with their first practice to help shake off the travel day. The Browns spent their first practice working in their individual position groups and then with their respective side of the ball for the entirety of the practice.
"We're very excited to be back down here," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "It's a beautiful place for us. Very lucky that we have ownership that lets us come down here and do it first class. They treat us great down here. So, we'll be down here for eight nights, get some really good work in and then we'll be back up in Berea to see our fans. So, excited about the season, and it's always an exciting time for us to get back on the grass working with the guys."
Here are the top observations and notes from the opening day of training camp.
Deshaun Watson throws during offensive work
Watson began throwing during the individual position drills of the first practice, throwing the ball back and forth with Jameis Winston. They transitioned to another drill of maneuvering around the pads and throwing into the throwing net.
Then, as the Browns moved into offensive drills, Watson threw reps to his receivers and pass catchers, and handed the ball off to his running backs. He connected with WR Elijah Moore down the sideline, as well WR Jerry Jeudy downfield. He also found WR Amari Cooper in the middle of the field for a pass and handed the ball off to RB John Kelly Jr. who found room to run the ball.
Stefanski said that Watson's throwing regimen is updated from when he threw every other day during OTAs and minicamp.
"It'll be a little more than that," Stefanski said. "We'll be smart. We're very fortunate to have a great medical team around Deshaun, so we'll continue to make good decisions. He's looks great. Feels great. So, we'll just be smart."
Dorian Thompson-Robinson's mental reps
Through a multitude of drills, Thompson-Robinson stood behind the offense and went through the mental rep of throwing the ball to simulate his reads. Towards the end of practice, Thompson-Robinson threw in two separate reps, connecting with TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden and RB D'Onta Foreman.
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.
Nick Chubb and Nyheim Hines at The Greenbrier
Before the Browns left for The Greenbrier, they announced that seven players were named to either the active/non-football injury or active/physically unable to perform lists.
However, even though they are unable to participate in the practices, both Chubb, Hines and S D'Anthony Bell were all present at practice and working off to the side with the trainers. When they split into offensive and defensive work, they went over to their respective sides of the ball and stood among their teammates.
Specialists' work
The specialists went through their own field goal session and punt session as practice began. K Dustin Hopkins practiced a series of field goal attempts, putting the ball through the uprights at the 40-yard line, 35-yard line and 30-yard line. K Cade York also practiced his field-goal range during their time on the field as P Corey Bojorquez held the ball for York.
Bojorquez focused on his punts, with different potential punt coverage players in the backfield catching his punts.
Seven players start practice off to the side
As the team went through warmups for practice, seven players were off to the side working with a trainer. That group included DE Myles Garrett, TE David Njoku, CB Cameron Mitchell, Bell, Chubb, Hines and Jeudy.
After they went through their own work, those seven players formed a huddle and broke down the huddle before returning to where their position groups were working. Jeudy joined in drills as the offense walked through sets and caught passes from Watson.
