The Three players to keep an eye on during Browns training camp…
The Browns have returned to Ohio and will continue their preparation for the regular season as they resume training camp at Cross Country Mortgage Campus in Berea.
With the final 53-man roster cuts scheduled for August 27, excelling during training camp and the preseason is essential for those fighting to make the team.
Here are three players to watch as training camp progresses:
The Browns have one of the NFL’s deepest wide receiver groups, featuring Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, and Jerry Judie, all of whom surpassed 600 receiving yards last season. The team also has a promising crop of young receivers, including 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman and 2024 fifth-round pick Jamari Thrash.
Last year, the Browns included six wideouts on their initial 53-man roster, and they currently have 12 receivers on their training camp roster, making the competition for the final roster spots intense.
Among those making an impression is third-year receiver David Bell, who ended Friday’s practice at The Greenbrier with a highlight-reel diving touchdown.
Bell’s effectiveness on special teams will be crucial for his bid to make the 53-man roster. In 2022, Bell was on the field for more than 27 percent of the Browns’ special teams plays, but his involvement dropped to over 8 percent in 2023. Despite this, Bell’s offensive role expanded last season, as he enjoyed his most productive year as a pro, recording three touchdown receptions with 12 fewer targets than in 2022.
Following Bell’s impressive touchdown catch in practice on Friday, Stefanski was asked about his thoughts on the 23-year-old.
“He’s done a great job, including that last play,” Stefanski remarked. “That was an exceptionally impressive catch to close out that drill. He has shown himself to be very dependable for our team.”
The Browns’ running back position has been hit hard by injuries since the start of last season, notably with four-time Pro Bowler Nick Chubb’s season-ending knee injury. Nyheim Hines is still recovering from his knee injury, and D’Onta Foreman, who was injured on August 1 during training camp, returned to the team but did not practice on Friday.
While Chubb and Hines are making progress, their return timelines remain uncertain, highlighting the importance of depth at the position.
Last season, the Browns kept only three running backs on their initial 53-man roster. This year, they have five active running backs, including Foreman, not accounting for those on the Active/Non-Football Injury (Hines) and Active/Physically Unable to Perform (Chubb) lists.
Cleveland signed Aidan Robbins from BYU as an undrafted free agent in May. Robbins had a standout 2022 season with 1,009 rushing yards and 10 total touchdowns. In his final college year with BYU, he rushed 101 times for 485 yards and one touchdown.
Robbins, standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 237 pounds, is a powerful running back with notable speed, having recorded a 4.6-second 40-yard dash at his Pro Day. Only two running backs taller than 6 feet posted faster times at the 2024 NFL Combine.
With Jerome Ford, who led the Browns in rushing last season, and Pierre Strong Jr., who exceeded 300 total yards for Cleveland, the importance of special teams skills will be crucial for Robbins as he strives to secure a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad.
Robbins has the opportunity to contribute on both offense and special teams as the Browns evaluate their roster options for the 2024 season.
The Browns significantly strengthened their linebacker corps by bringing in seasoned veteran Jordan Hicks, a Super Bowl winner with a decade of experience, who is familiar with defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s schemes. Their commitment to enhancing the position continued with the selection of Nathaniel Watson from Mississippi State in the sixth round of the 2024 draft.
Watson, a six-year player at Mississippi State, earned the 2023 AP SEC Defensive Player of the Year accolade after a standout season with 10 sacks and 137 tackles, along with an interception, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.
Following the draft, Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry expressed his belief that Watson has the potential to become a versatile linebacker capable of contributing throughout the defense.
