The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Wills says he was ‘trash’ last year
Browns dominate Giants in teams’ first joint practice
Guess which Browns’ offensive lineman said this on Aug. 19 before the Browns and Giants practiced together in Berea:
“Looking at it a year ago, I thought I was trash compared to this year. It’s a brand new game when you turn on the film.”
That would be left tackle Jedrick Wills, the 10th overall pick of the 2020 draft. Wills was voted to the all-rookie team by the Pro Football Writers’ Association. Not bad for “trash.”
Head coach Kevin Stefanski raised his eyebrows in surprise when told what Wills said. He did not agree with the trash assessment, but he did agree that Wills has improved.
Wills was part of the group that dominated the Giants in the joint practice. Another joint practice is set for Aug. 20 at Browns headquarters.
The day ended with a pair of two-minute drills. Rashard Higgins made a leaping 19-yard touchdown catch from Baker Mayfield with four Giants around him to end the portion with the Browns on offense. Mayfield rolled out to the right on the play and was pressured by Giants linebacker Lorenzo Carter.
“We’ll have to look at the tape,” Stefanski said. “I was right there. I was very close to blowing that dead for a sack.”
Sack or not, it was still a spectacular catch by Higgins in a crowd.
On the very next play, Browns rookie cornerback Greg Newsome picked off a pass from Giants starting quarterback Daniel Jones, touching off a celebration by the home team.
Wills said blocking Myles Garrett in practice makes him a better left tackle. Garrett has been out since Aug. 9 with a hamstring injury, but the two locked up early in camp and both benefitted.
“You’ve never seen anyone like him throughout the league,” Wills said. “He’s probably the best premier pass rusher that we have on our team and throughout the whole NFL.
“You just see so many different combinations of moves. Like some guys you stop them on their very first move and Myles is giving you three and four.”
Like every offensive lineman on every level of football, Wills takes pride in being able to continue playing when assorted body
parts are complaining. He sprained his ankle in practice Aug. 18 but was right back at it a day later. He said playing with three or four dislocated fingers is normal.
A shin injury forced him to the sideline in the fourth quarter of the season opener in Baltimore. He wasn’t knocked out of a game again until the worst possible time, when he suffered a high ankle sprain on the first play of the divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs. He wanted to return, but couldn’t. Compounding the problem was his replacement, Kendall Lamm, was also injured.
“I went back to the locker room,” Wills said. “They were doing everything they could. I got about four different tape jobs. They tried to juice it up a little bit (a pain killer shot).
“I had a very high ankle sprain that lasted me for about two months rehab after the season. But it was tough just watching those guys on my phone on the app. So I’m very excited for the first game we have
this year.”
The Browns begin the regular season on Sept. 12 against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where Kansas City eliminated them from the playoffs, 22-17.
“I really do think (Wills) has come a long way, personally and professionally,” Stefanski said. “I just think he has been very much about his business. I’ve noticed. I know his teammates have noticed, as well.
“These guys work very, very hard during practice, before practice, after practice and in between periods. He’s a guy who is constantly learning under (offensive line) Coach (Bill) Callahan and under (assistant offensive line) Coach (Scott) Peters. A lot of that is hand placement for the offensive line. I do see a guy that’s improving.”
Wills said he is lighter but stronger than a year ago, which is what his coaches wanted. He weighed 328 pounds at the end of the 2020 season. He weighed 313 pounds at the start of training camp and now weighs 316 pounds with
18 percent body fat.
Notes
Linebackers Jordan Phillips (elbow) and Sione Takitaki (hamstring) left practice and did not return.
• Demetric Felton was a wide receiver in the preseason opener in Jacksonville. He has been practicing at running back this week and will be a running back in the preseason game with the Giants on Aug. 22 at FirstEnergy Stadium barring any more injuries to the receivers. Ryan Switzer suffered a foot injury against the Jaguars that will require surgery to repair.
• Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (undisclosed), safety Grant Delpit (hamstring), guard Michael Dunn (back), linebacker Tony Fields (foot), safety Sheldrick Redwine (ankle), cornerback Denzel Ward (soreness), and cornerback M.J. Stewart (hamstring) did not practice.
• The Browns terminated the contract of defensive tackle Damion Square and signed wide receiver JoJo Ward.