The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Jackson to reassess quarterback situation after first scrimmage
The Browns’ blurry quarterback situation might come into sharper focus on Aug. 4 during the Orange and Brown Scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium — or maybe not.
The scrimmage, free and open to the public, begins at 5 p.m. and is scheduled to run for two hours.
Coach Hue Jackson on Aug. 3 said the first offense will go against the second defense. The second offense will go against the starting defense. He wants to make the scrimmage as close to game conditions as possible, with live tackling from start to finish.
Jackson said the quarterback rotation will be the same as it has been from the start of training camp — Cody Kessler, Brock Osweiler, rookie DeShone Kizer and Kevin Hogan. Jackson said he will reassess the quarterbacks after the scrimmage, but he is not holding himself to a deadline to name a starter for the season opener against the Steelers on Sept. 10.
“Obviously, after the scrimmage we’ll go through that process,” Jackson said after practice on Aug. 3. “Next week, there are really two days of practice before we play. I will say me making a decision who may start the (preseason opener vs. the Saints Aug. 10) may not be who’s the starter for the season, too.
“I still have to go through the process. Next week, the guy that starts might not still be the starter in my mind unless that’s where I am. I’m not going to rush. I appreciate you all and I appreciate our fans. But it’s too important of a decision to get right for our football team. So I love the pressure you guys put on but I’m not succumbing to it.”
The Browns play their second preseason game on Aug. 21 at home against the New York Giants.
Garrett a starter
Rookie defensive end Myles Garrett was back practicing with the second team defense on Aug. 3. Jackson did not explain the switch after Garrett practiced with the first team a day earlier, but the rookie won’t be down for long.
“It’s just back and forth,” Jackson said.
“It’s nothing. I think we know that Myles is a starter on our football team. So I think that’s the end of that discussion.”
Browns left tackle Joe Thomas met with the media earlier in the day and had high praise for Garrett. The interview with Thomas came a day after Garrett beat him around the corner to get to Kessler.
“Myles is very fast,” Thomas said. “That’s my thought on Myles Garrett. I think he’s doing an amazing job. I can easily see when he’s out there the reasons why you make him the No. 1 pick. He’s got athleticism, an ability to bend and run that few players in the NFL have, and the way he works at it, the way he analyzes his game after every practice, the way he studies, it’s easy to understand why he was the consensus No. 1 pick.”
Garrett won’t go against Thomas in the scrimmage unless Jackson keeps him on the second unit.
Njoku injured
Rookie tight end David Njoku left early in practice Aug. 3 with a lower back injury. Jackson said it isn’t serious and is hopeful Njoku can play in the scrimmage. … Wide receiver James Wright is being evaluated for a chest injury . ... Defensive tackle Caleb Brantley (finger), offensive lineman Gabe Ikard (concussion) and safety Ed Reynolds (knee) missed practice.
Keep an eye on…
Jackson was asked which players have jumped out as surprises during the first seven days of training camp.
The first player he mentioned was defensive lineman Trevon Coley, a firstyear player who was in the Ravens’ camp as an undrafted rookie last year.
“Coley has done a sensational job,” Jackson said. “(Linebacker) Deon King can really run.
“(Offensive tackle) Shon Coleman’s had a really good camp. Not that I didn’t know about him, but he was coming off an injury and improving. And Cam (Erving). Cam’s done a great job at tackle. Both of those guys have really jumped out at me because we needed to see (Erving) go from center to tackle, so I think he’s proven that he’s worthy of playing out there.
“The kid Dayes (rookie running back Matthew Dayes) has made plays in every practice that he’s been involved in. All the different things we’re doing with (running back) Duke Johnson. That’s exciting for me because those are guys that have a chance to be some bedrock for our football team.”