Browns Practice Report December 6, 2023
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00:00 Hey Browns fans welcome to
00:10 another Browns practice report
00:12 coming to you from Berea where
00:14 the Browns returned and not
00:15 only to town after their two
00:17 weeks away on the West Coast in
00:19 Denver and Los Angeles but also
00:21 return to practice ahead of a
00:22 big matchup ready coming down
00:23 the pike this weekend against
00:25 the Jacksonville Jaguars.
00:27 There's a lot sort of still
00:28 looming in terms of this matchup
00:30 we know as of Monday night that
00:31 Trevor Lawrence got hurt.
00:33 He's dealing with a high ankle
00:34 sprain.
00:35 His status for this game based
00:36 on just reporting that's out
00:38 there sounds like it's a long
00:39 shot he'll play.
00:40 So obviously discouraging news
00:43 in terms of another injury in
00:44 the NFL.
00:45 But for the Browns standpoint
00:46 makes this game the outlook of
00:49 this game a little a lot
00:50 different I should say than what
00:52 it looked like a week ago when
00:53 you knew you were playing
00:54 against a very good Jaguars
00:56 team with a very good
00:56 quarterback.
00:57 One of the top teams in the AFC.
01:00 Now this is a situation where
01:01 the Browns start this sort of
01:02 five game home stretch or five
01:04 game home stretch of the season
01:05 I should say with a matchup
01:08 that certainly looks a lot
01:09 different than did.
01:10 So that's kind of the outlook
01:12 moving forward into the week.
01:13 But as the Browns return to the
01:14 practice field today some
01:16 notable injury updates that fans
01:18 are going to want to obviously
01:19 pay attention to.
01:20 I think first and foremost we'll
01:22 get this one out of the way.
01:23 Denzel Ward was back on the
01:24 practice field today.
01:25 That is an encouraging sign
01:27 after the defense struggled in
01:29 Denver in Los Angeles on that
01:30 road trip and the numbers sort
01:32 of reflect that when they're on
01:34 the road Browns have struggled
01:36 30 points per game they're
01:37 allowing at home 10 points per
01:38 game to get Denzel Ward back in
01:40 front of the home crowd this
01:41 weekend potentially should be a
01:44 good thing a good momentum
01:46 builder for that side of the
01:47 ball obviously.
01:49 So it's good to see that he's
01:49 back out there for Cleveland.
01:51 Another player who returned to
01:52 the practice field today and
01:53 this is one that I know fans the
01:56 question that's kind of looming
01:57 large entering the week of
01:59 practice Dorian Thompson
02:00 Robinson was out there today.
02:02 Granted still not sure exactly
02:05 how much he's doing for a
02:06 practice standpoint because
02:07 Kevin Stefanski did announce
02:09 that he remains the concussion
02:10 protocol but progressing towards
02:14 being able to return to the
02:15 field potentially this weekend
02:16 and we know that that is the big
02:17 decision that looms large for
02:20 Kevin Stefanski.
02:21 He's going to have to choose
02:22 between Dorian Thompson Robinson
02:24 assuming he clears the
02:25 protocols by the end of the
02:26 week and Joe Flacco to name his
02:29 starting quarterback.
02:30 I think what's interesting as
02:31 you kind of read the tea leaves
02:32 on the situation it feels very
02:35 much like this could be a one of
02:38 those gamesmanship type
02:39 scenarios where Kevin Stefanski
02:40 isn't really going to give
02:41 anything away until he
02:42 absolutely has to going to keep
02:44 his cards close to the vest
02:45 which is totally understandable
02:47 from a coaching standpoint when
02:48 you've got two different guys
02:50 that could be options for you
02:51 going into a big game.
02:53 So I don't necessarily blame him
02:54 for that but I will say out of
02:56 the practice field today during
02:58 the open portion that we were
03:00 able to view it was Joe Flacco
03:02 taking the majority of the snaps
03:04 when during passing drills that
03:05 were visible that were visible
03:07 and Dorian Thompson Robinson
03:09 took basically just two snaps.
03:11 So again I don't know if that's
03:13 a sign that he was all he was
03:16 still sort of limited to what he
03:17 could do because as the fans
03:19 alluded to still working through
03:20 the protocols not quite finished
03:22 with that yet or if it's a sign
03:24 that Joe Flacco is for sure the
03:26 starter but you can take that
03:27 for what it is and read into it
03:29 how you will.
03:30 I think it certainly is a sign
03:32 sort of just picking up on the
03:33 tea leaves here that Flacco is
03:35 at least the leader in the
03:36 clubhouse and that's obviously
03:37 going to play dividends as far
03:39 as what that means for this
03:41 offense moving forward.
03:42 And I think there was a really
03:43 good question asked of
03:43 Stefanski and his his portion of
03:45 meeting with the media where he
03:47 basically was asked you know how
03:49 do you feel about the idea that
03:52 at some point you hope to
03:54 settle in on one of these guys
03:55 for the remainder of the season.
03:57 And he continued to say what
03:58 this team's really been saying
03:59 all year as resilient as they've
04:00 been.
04:00 We're just taking a one week at
04:01 a time.
04:02 We're focusing on how we have to
04:03 win this game.
04:04 So from my perspective it
04:06 certainly felt like there were
04:07 some positives with the offense
04:08 this past weekend in Los Angeles
04:10 with Flacco under center
04:11 throwing the ball to nine
04:12 receivers only happened one of
04:14 the time this season the fact
04:15 that Flacco pushed the ball on
04:16 the field more than any
04:17 quarterback in the last five
04:18 years is an encouraging sign as
04:20 well.
04:20 So I think all signs are
04:21 pointing to Flacco but it still
04:23 is a developing conversation and
04:25 developing story that you want
04:26 to pay attention to throughout
04:28 the week.
04:28 Obviously over at Browns Digest
04:30 dot com.
04:31 Other injury notes.
04:32 Amari Cooper was not out on the
04:34 practice field today.
04:36 He remains the concussion
04:37 protocol that can always be
04:40 nerve wracking to hear when you
04:41 hear guys in the concussion
04:42 protocol and obviously we've
04:43 seen that play out with other
04:44 players this year.
04:45 Marquis Gilwin was injured in
04:47 that Cardinals game.
04:48 He hasn't been back since
04:49 because he's still in the
04:49 concussion protocol.
04:50 So something to monitor.
04:52 But the positive I think for
04:54 from Amari standpoint is that
04:56 Kevin Stefanski did say he's
04:58 trending in the right direction
04:59 towards potentially playing this
05:00 weekend.
05:01 So that would be a huge get back
05:03 for the Browns if he's able to
05:04 suit up on Sunday against the
05:05 Jaguars.
05:06 I think early on you saw last
05:08 weekend that Flacco was really
05:09 making a point of emphasis of
05:10 getting the ball to Amari Cooper
05:14 his top target.
05:15 And as long as he's out there
05:17 I'm sure that will continue to
05:17 be the case.
05:18 It's good things tend to happen
05:20 when you get the ball the ball
05:21 of Amari Cooper's hand.
05:22 So another sort of developing
05:23 situation.
05:24 One other injury note that I
05:25 want to make you guys aware of
05:27 is just the status of Jed
05:28 Wills.
05:29 Obviously left several weeks ago
05:32 with a knee injury against the
05:34 Cardinals.
05:35 He was put on the I.R.
05:36 With an MCL injury that once
05:39 you're on the I.R.
05:40 Obviously you guys are aware
05:41 four weeks you have to at least
05:43 be on.
05:43 This would be the first week
05:44 that can open his practice
05:45 window and allow him to return
05:47 to the field.
05:48 Injury he has listed in about
05:50 four to six weeks.
05:51 So we don't know for sure if
05:52 he's coming back.
05:52 And Kevin Stefanski still left
05:54 that as kind of a wait and see
05:56 type situation at the moment.
05:58 But something else to monitor as
06:00 you wonder if the Browns have a
06:01 chance to get their offensive
06:02 line back to almost full
06:03 strength.
06:04 Obviously they'll never get Jack
06:04 Conklin back this year.
06:06 But a situation there that could
06:08 play out for or pay dividends
06:10 down the stretch of the season
06:11 as you re-bolster those the
06:13 left side of the offensive line
06:15 with Jedrick Wills.
06:16 I also want to get to this
06:18 because we could always use a
06:19 feel good story.
06:21 And Anthony Walker Jr. has been
06:22 just that for the Browns the
06:23 last couple of seasons despite
06:25 leaving or having to have the
06:27 ACL injury last year.
06:28 And that cost him the rest of
06:29 last season.
06:30 But he returned this year and he
06:32 has been a vocal leader at the
06:34 forefront of everything the
06:35 Browns have done this year that
06:36 has helped him get out to the
06:37 seven and five record that they
06:38 have.
06:39 And this week he received all
06:41 kinds of accolades for it but
06:43 really also for his work off the
06:44 field.
06:45 The first one as many fans are
06:48 aware of the Walter Payton man
06:49 with year honor which is given
06:51 out to one player in the NFL
06:53 each and every single year but
06:54 all 32 teams nominate somebody.
06:57 He was nominated for that award.
06:59 He reacted to that we'll get to
07:00 that here in a second but he
07:01 also was chosen by his teammates
07:03 for the Ed Block Courage Award
07:04 maybe fans less familiar with
07:06 that one but it's basically
07:08 named after former Baltimore
07:10 Colts athletic trainer Ed Block
07:13 and it's an award handed out for
07:15 courage compassion commitment
07:17 and community.
07:18 So something that certainly
07:20 Anthony Walker represents very
07:21 very well all those things and
07:23 this was his reaction today to
07:25 finding out to the news
07:27 obviously this week that came
07:28 out that he was both the Walter
07:29 Payton man of the year nominee
07:31 but also the team's Ed Block
07:33 Courage Award recipient.
07:35 Thankful obviously you know my
07:37 teammates the organization for
07:40 you know the nominations the
07:41 the award getting awards.
07:44 The Walter Payton man of the
07:45 year obviously something just
07:47 like I said just very
07:47 prestigious you know you see
07:49 growing up you know you see
07:50 Super Bowls you see an MVP all
07:52 that stuff but the man of the
07:53 year is something that you know
07:54 kind of sticks with you a little
07:55 longer you know that legacy that
07:56 you want to leave in the
07:57 community and stuff like that.
07:59 So very thankful for that.
08:00 The Ed Block Courage Award
08:01 obviously not an award that you
08:03 want to be up for means you got
08:04 hurt and you got to come back
08:05 from injury but I think I'm
08:07 stronger from it and I and
08:09 that's a testament to my
08:10 teammates honestly me being here
08:12 every day with those guys last
08:13 year going through rehab.
08:14 Those guys really got me
08:15 through.
08:16 So I'm very thankful to those
08:17 guys and for their nomination
08:19 for that award.
08:22 Really cool honor and I think
08:24 Anthony Walker obviously very
08:25 deserving on this team.
08:26 He is a vocal leader on this
08:28 team vocal leader on the
08:29 defense and I think his the
08:32 leadership that he possesses and
08:34 what he means to his teammates
08:35 were reflected in both of those
08:37 awards sort of going his
08:39 direction or him being nominated
08:40 for the Walter Payton man of the
08:41 year at least and earning the
08:43 other one the Ed Block Courage
08:45 Award speaks to his character
08:47 speaks to everything that he's
08:48 done and you kind of heard
08:51 later on in the conversation
08:52 which you could find that entire
08:54 press conference over at the
08:56 Browns Digest YouTube channel
08:58 but he talked a lot just about
08:59 like his community work and
09:00 trying to help educate kids and
09:02 how he's you know the stay in
09:04 the game program at the Browns
09:07 have have partnered with him on
09:08 and all those types of things
09:10 and just how meaningful that is
09:11 to him.
09:11 So really really cool honor for
09:12 him.
09:13 And that was also noted by head
09:14 coach Kevin Stefanski who
09:15 actually started his press
09:16 conference today.
09:16 We got Kevin Stefanski in a good
09:18 mood today.
09:18 He was cracking some jokes.
09:19 He was having some fun and he
09:21 may want at the expense of
09:22 Anthony Walker but had some good
09:24 things to say about him as well.
09:24 Here's what he had to say about
09:26 his star linebacker.
09:27 I just want to acknowledge
09:29 Anthony Walker Jr.
09:30 You know the Cleveland Browns
09:32 Walter Payton man of the year
09:34 nominee incredible influence on
09:37 this football team in the
09:39 locker room on the field and
09:41 then in our community.
09:41 I think he does an amazing job.
09:43 Such a great example for all of
09:45 the players on how to be a pro
09:48 how to make an impact again both
09:50 on your football team and on
09:51 your community.
09:51 So really proud of a walk and
09:54 then his teammates which I think
09:56 is a big deal voted him the
09:58 Ed Block Courage Award winner
10:00 which that's always you know
10:01 when it's voted on by your
10:02 peers.
10:02 I think it means something
10:05 really special.
10:05 And for him to come back from
10:08 the injury that he had you know
10:12 those are hard and to rehab the
10:14 injury that he did and to come
10:15 back and play well for us again
10:18 huge impact.
10:19 And then you know I don't know
10:21 if you guys know but he was out
10:22 of practice last week last
10:24 Wednesday and just to overcome
10:27 ordering oysters on DoorDash.
10:29 Think about how hard that is to
10:32 overcome and he did.
10:33 I don't know if that fact in the
10:35 voting by his teammates but you
10:38 know I just want to acknowledge
10:39 that fact.
10:41 A little moment there fun little
10:43 break up from Stefanski but
10:44 yeah I think Walker certainly
10:46 epitomizes everything you're
10:47 looking for from this franchise
10:49 in terms of a leader in terms of
10:51 both on and off the field.
10:52 And I think that's reflected on
10:54 Sundays out there as being the
10:56 guy with the green dot on the
10:58 cell.
10:58 Kind of running the show on the
11:00 defensive side of things.
11:00 So congratulations to him.
11:01 It's well earned.
11:03 And there was a lot of just
11:05 fanfare sort of shared with him
11:07 and around him today out in
11:09 Brea which was cool to see.
11:09 But we at the top of this we
11:12 kind of gave you the rundown a
11:13 little bit of the injury news
11:14 and that style stuff that you
11:15 can follow along with and get
11:16 updates on throughout the rest
11:18 of the week over Browse digest
11:19 dot com of course that
11:20 quarterback situation is the
11:22 big one we'll be writing a lot
11:23 about that this week.
11:23 So again Browns digest dot com
11:26 you know where to find us.
11:26 You can also follow along over
11:28 on the YouTube channel back
11:29 tomorrow with more live updates
11:33 from Brea but also more press
11:34 conferences as we will see if
11:36 we hear from the quarterbacks
11:37 potentially Joe Flacco speaking
11:38 on Thursday.
11:38 So it should be an eventful week
11:41 and we can't wait to find out
11:42 another who the starting
11:44 quarterback will be for the
11:45 Browns like we've done many
11:46 many times already this year.
11:47 Appreciate you guys tuning in.
11:48 I'm Spencer German coming to you
11:50 from Brea and as always keep it
11:52 locked.
11:52 Follow along Browns digest dot
11:53 com.
11:53 We'll see you next week.
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