BEREA, Ohio –The Browns welcomed the Giants to CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Thursday for the first day of two joint practices, and the Browns won the spirited, fast-paced session.
“Got some good work in there with the Giants,’’ coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice. “Really thought it was competitive. The guys understood that we are here to get some work done. I thought on both sides, we did that. Really good situational periods for special teams, for offense and for defense. We will link up tomorrow, get another good workday in, take a day off and then play the Giants on Sunday.”
The two-minute drills at the end of practice summed up the day: Baker Mayfield capped off the offense with a TD pass to a leaping Rashard Higgins, and the defensive series ended with Greg Newsome II picking off Daniel Jones.
Other standouts included Browns tight end David Njoku and Jarvis Landry, who made like Odell Beckham Jr. and made a nifty one-handed grab over the middle.
“He’s a very competitive dude,” Stefanski said of Landry. “He wants to win every drill. He wants to win when they do releases. He wants to win one on ones. He wants to win the team period. That sets the tone for our team. We understand that the wins and losses come on Sunday, but you really can be out here and be competitive and try to win each practice if you will.”
Here are some other things that happened on Day 16.
1. Linebackers Sione Takitaki and Jacob Phillips limp off
Joint practices always result in some injuries, and Thursday’s was no different. Takitaki (hamstring) and Phillips (elbow) both left early and didn’t return. With Mack Wilson already resting his sore shoulder, the linebacking corps got thin in a hurry.
Stefanski didn’t have an immediate update, but both players might sit out the second preseason game on Sunday. Takitaki’s injury marks about the 10th hamstring injury this camp, or what former Browns coach Butch Davis would call the injury du jour.
2. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah get first-team reps
With so many injured linebackers, Owusu-Koramoah got his inaugural first-team reps and made the most of them. He flashed his speed and playmaking ability. The thing Owusu-Koramoah must do is continue to make sure he’s seeing the field and knowing how to fit into the flow of the defense. Other players’ injuries could hasten his journey up the depth chart.
“He’s definitely playing fast on the field,” Stefanski said. “He’s making plays. We had a couple of injuries early in the practice so we had to play everybody over the course of the practice. It is just the natural progression of things for him.”
3. Jedrick Wills Jr. trash-talks himself
Wills admitted how tough it was last year to switch from right tackle in college to left tackle as a rookie last season, even though he was protecting lefty Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside.
“Looking at it a year ago, I thought I was trash compared to this year watching film,” Wills said. “It’s a brand new game when you turn on the film this year.”
We expected some trash-talking during Giants week, but not like this.
“I really do think he’s come a long way,” Stefanski said. “Personally and professionally, I just think he’s been very much about his business. I’ve noticed. I know his teammates have noticed, as well.”
4. Odell Beckham Jr. reunites with old friends
Beckham, who spent his first five years with the Giants, sat out practice but caught up with some of his old pals. He might suit up on Friday, but he’s not expected to play Sunday in the second preseason game.
5. Who else rested
The following players sat out Thursday: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley (neck), S Grant Delpit (hamstring), G Michael Dunn (back), Tony Fields II (foot), DE Myles Garrett (hamstring), CB A.J. Green (neck), S Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), CB M.J. Stewart Jr. (hamstring), CB Denzel Ward (soreness). DE Jadeveon Clowney was also idle, and WR Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) got the day off. For the Giants, running back Saquon Barkley, recovering from a torn ACL, didn’t practice.
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