2. Look for bad eyes
Pro Bowl pass rusher Myles Garrett participated in his first practice of this training camp. He was sidelined by what was described as a minor hamstring injury.
Garrett did not participate in team drills, but was active in the individual periods.
In the past two practices, Porter Gustin has filled the void to the left of the defensive line. Gustin signed with the Browns midway through last season when the defensive line was decimated by injuries and Garrett’s suspension. He finished the season with seven tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery and has had that experience in 2020. Gustin has been on the entire field, and, more importantly, in the backfield.
3. Contingency plans
Without CB Kevin Johnson on the field Thursday and in the foreseeable future, the Browns turned to MJ Stewart Jr. in the lock. The first pick of the second round was claimed through exemptions just a few days before the start of training camp. Donnie Lewis Jr., a seventh-round pick in 2019, and undrafted rookie AJ Green also emerged as options at a position that Johnson played so well through the first five days of camp.
Stefanski indicated that the Browns would attack Johnson’s absence with a by-commission approach.
“The nice part of having an 80-man roster is that we have a lot of guys that we will visit there,” Stefanski said. “Even before, we had a lot of guys working there. I think you’ll see a pretty good rotation of guys there.”
4. Here and there
- With Jamie Gillan out for a second consecutive day out due to illness, veteran back-up QB Case Keenum served as the keeper in a long period of field goals. Austin Seibert connected on most of them, including his longest attempt at the end.
- WR Damion Ratley (body), who has not practiced since day 1, and DT Larry Ogunjobi (body) remained sidelined. S Karl Joseph, who is on a recovery plan equal to Landry’s, was back on the field.
- The Browns will be back on the field Saturday for their first in what will be another five-day practice.
