The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Stanton battling for fourth tight end spot
Ex-UNLV QB started training camp as a fullback
The play ending the season for Browns tight end Stephen Carlson created opportunity for Johnny Stanton IV.
The same play that ended the season for Browns tight end Stephen Carlson created an opportunity for Johnny Stanton IV.
Stanton began training camp competing with Andy Janovich for the only fullback job available on the Browns’ roster. But with 3:37 left in the first quarter of the preseason opener on Aug. 14 in Jacksonville, Carlson stood and limped to the sideline after catching a seven-yard pass from Case Keenum.
Carlson tried to walk off the injury. The more he tried, the more pain he felt. Then came the grim report: The third-year player from Princeton would need knee surgery and miss the 2021 season.
Carlson caught one pass last season. Instead of being a target for Baker Mayfield, Carlson’s job was to do the dirty work on special teams and as a blocking tight end on the 11-5 playoff team.
The Browns need to replace Carlson. So last week Stanton, 6-foot-2, 240 pounds, was switched from fullback to tight end. He is two inches shorter than Carlson, who also weighs 240 pounds.
Stanton caught two passes for 33 yards in the 17-13 preseason victory over the Giants. He had one carry and lost a yard. He is competing with tight end Jordan Franks to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. The Browns on Aug. 25 claimed tight end Kyle Markway on waivers from the Rams.
The last chance for Stanton, Franks and Markway to impress coaches in a game setting comes Aug. 29 in Atlanta in the final preseason game of the summer.
“Certainly, the more you can do, it helps your value,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said.
Franks caught three passes for 18 yards against the Giants and was on the field for 65 percent of the offensive plays — a total of 42 snaps. Stanton was on for 11 (17 percent) plays.
“They prepared me well,” Stanton said. “I knew it was coming. I didn’t get as many reps as (Franks), but I tried to make it count when I got those plays in practice and transfer it (to the game).”
Stanton was a dual-threat quarterback at UNLV as a runner and passer. He was not elusive, ala Lamar Jackson or Deshaun Watson. He instead tried to run over tacklers, just as he does when he gets the ball as a fullback.
Stanton did not excel enough as a runner or passer to get drafted in 2018. He signed with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie and spent the entire season on injured reserve with a lower leg injury. He was released by Minnesota in January 2019. The Vikings signed him to their practice squad on Nov. 26, 2019, and then released him two weeks later.
Stefanski was on the Vikings’ coaching staff when Stanton toiled in Minnesota. Two weeks after Stefanski was named Browns head coach in January 2020, the Browns signed Stanton to a futures contract. Stanton was on the Browns’ practice squad last year. He was activated for one game (against the Eagles) and then re-signed to the practice squad.
At long last, Stanton’s determination might just pay off.
“(Becoming a blocker) is a big transition,” Stanton said. “You’re transferring from wanting to stay away from the tacklers to influencing them to come to you. I’m in my fourth year doing it and I’m still learning every day. I feel like I’m proud to have gotten to this point, but I know there’s a long way to go, too.”
Stanton completed 105 of 195 passes for 1,400 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions at UNLV. He said his time as a college quarterback, even though the Browns’ system is far more complex, helps him quickly grasp what the coaches want from him as a tight end.
Notes
The injured are returning. Cornerback Denzel Ward, out since Aug. 7 with what the Browns said was “soreness,” participated in individual drills and worked on the side with assistant defensive backs coach Brandon Lynch.
Defensive end Takkarist McKinley practiced for the first time since leaving the team three weeks ago for personal reasons. … Wide receiver Anthony Shwartz and safety Sheldrick Redwine (ankle) also returned to practice.
Right tackle Jack Conklin (illness), cornerback Greedy Williams (groin), linebacker Tony Fields (foot) and safety Grant Delpit did not practice.