BEREA, Ohio—The Cleveland Browns wrapped up their seventh day of training camp at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on Wednesday.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski had his players practice without pads. It was also military appreciation day, where members of the nation’s armed forces had the opportunity to meet with a few of the team’s players.
But that was not the only outside interaction the Browns had in Berea. Since Saturday, the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus has hosted a tremendous number of fans who have come to watch the team practice. It was the first time since 2019 that the facility opened to supporters at full capacity.
For safety and New Orleans native Grant Delpit, seeing the fans at training camp gave him memories of his own childhood.
“I remember going to [the Saints’] training camp when I was [younger]. That was the coolest thing ever.”
Stefanski and multiple players spoke to the media this week about the team’s progress and their continued efforts as the NFL regular season draws near.
Kevin Stefanski: Head Coach
In his third season at the helm for Cleveland, Stefanski knows that the pressure is on his team to perform well after a frustrating eight-win season in 2021.
Stefanski spoke to the media on Wednesday. And no one was happier with the scorching temperatures at practice.
“We need [to] work in the heat. [We’ve] got Jacksonville coming up [next Saturday]. Lord knows what that temperature could be down there at night,” Stefanski said. “The message with that is to hydrate and take care of ourselves.”
One of the players Stefanski believes can make a major impact both on and off the field is wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was traded to Cleveland from the Dallas Cowboys on March 12.
“Amari is the veteran in [the wide receiver room]. But [by] Amari just being himself, he can be a leader because you can lead by example,” Stefanski said Wednesday.
Although wide receivers like Cooper will play a heavy role in the team’s success, what makes Browns fans salivate the most is the dynamic running game of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Stefanski discussed his admiration for their work ethic and how it has led to their success.
“They both love football. They both love to win. They both love to push each other,” Stefanski said Wednesday.
Kareem Hunt: Running Back
Now entering his fourth year in Cleveland, Kareem Hunt looks to have a bounce-back season after playing in just eight games last season. He accumulated 386 rushing yards, the second lowest of his career since entering the NFL in 2017.
But Hunt is not concerned at all, especially with the support and trust he has gained with Nick Chubb. When it comes to personalities, there may not be two people who are more different than one another. Hunt is seen as a more flamboyant figure while Chubb personifies a serious, straight-faced character.
Despite that vast difference, Hunt knows that he can always expect a great day of work with his running mate.
“I love [Nick] Chubb,” Hunt said to media on Wednesday. “He brings [effort] every day and we have fun with it. That’s how we get through these hot, long days [at] practice.”
A native of Willoughby, Ohio, Hunt has loved every moment of playing for his hometown team. He hopes to end his career as a Brown and bring Cleveland its first-ever taste of Super Bowl glory.
“I love it. I love all [the] fans. [They’ve] got a lot of love for me. My whole family is here, so it [doesn’t] get [any] better than that,” Hunt said. “I would love to finish out [as a Brown] and help bring a championship to Cleveland.”
With a depth chart that includes Chubb, D’Ernest Johnson and rookie Jerome Ford, Hunt believes that the collective talent of the Browns’ running backs is second to none.
Reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala asked Hunt if he thinks his team employs the deepest running back room in the NFL.
“Hands down, no doubt. It’s the deepest from top to bottom,” Hunt said Wednesday.
Jack Conklin: Right Tackle
Similar to Kareem Hunt, Conklin is another player on Cleveland’s roster who hopes to rebound from a difficult 2021 campaign, where he participated in just seven games. He missed Weeks 9 through 11 due to a dislocated elbow
Conklin was reactivated in Week 12 for a divisional matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. But he tore the patellar tendon in his right foot early in the first quarter and was carted off the field.
Just like that, Conklin’s 2021 season was over.
But Conklin has used that adversity as a positive to grow and believes he is ready to get back to work on the football field.
“[I feel] good. It’s coming along [really] well. [I] just started getting back [to] practicing so [I] just [have] to ease in and let my knee get back to feeling used to football,” Conklin said to the media on Wednesday. “So far everything is going great. I feel stronger than I’ve been in a long time.”
2022 is the third year Conklin will work under the guidance of offensive line coach Bill Callahan—something he is very much looking forward to.
“It’s been awesome to have Bill. Being able to come here and have him as a teacher has taken my game to the next level,” Conklin said. “He’s such a craftsman in how he breaks everything down. Every day there’s something new that I pick up from him … He’s always thinking and it’s great to have him.”
In all, Conklin let the media know his ultimate goal at the very beginning of Tuesday’s press conference.
“I want to get back out [there] and help the team,” Conklin stated.
Jacoby Brissett: Quarterback
This is not the first rodeo for Jacoby Brissett.
With starting quarterback Deshaun Watson suspended for at least six games for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Brissett will most likely be the Week 1 starter when the Browns take on the Carolina Panthers in Charlotte.
Brissett’s first opportunity to serve as the role of backup quarterback came in 2016 with the New England Patriots, where he started in two games. He then joined the Indianapolis Colts the following season.
In four years with the Colts, Brissett played in 46 games and averaged a completion percentage of 48.68%. Last season saw Brissett as a member of the Miami Dolphins, where he started five games—throwing for 1,089 yards and five touchdowns.
Those experiences helped him gain the confidence he needs to step up for Cleveland when the regular season begins.
“Since I’ve been in this league it’s been the next man up. And that was the case [in] my rookie year,” Brissett told media on Tuesday. “That experience obviously helps. Not only with playing but also [with] the mindset of understanding that you [have] to be ready when your number is called.”
Although Brissett’s long-term future in Cleveland remains uncertain, he believes that he is surrounded by a strong team and plans to stay as prepared as he possibly can.
“I’m excited for the opportunity to go out there, work hard, learn and be ready whenever the time comes.”
Upcoming schedule
The Cleveland Browns resume their training camp in Berea on Friday. It will be the first of four practices before they head to Jacksonville for a preseason matchup with the Jaguars.
That game will be played on Aug. 13 with kickoff at 7 p.m. EST.
