HC Kevin Stefanski (9.1.21)
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski:
On signing QB Nick Mullens to the practice squad:
“The thinking is get a quarterback in here and take a look at him. He has some prior experience in this system. (Offensive assistant) T.C. McCartney was with him in San Francisco so had some intel on him as a person and a player.”
On if there is a need to add another DE to the 53-man roster:
“I would say we will see. As you know, the roster is fluid. We talked about it yesterday, that is the initial 53, and we will see how it plays out over the next couple days.”
On there is a sense of relief being able to bring back players on the Browns practice squad after they were cut by the team yesterday:
“I think there is. I got to talk to a bunch of those guys yesterday. You really do want what is best for them. If guys land on another 53, you are happy for them. When they do not, you want them to be here because we know them. We feel like we are a big part of their development. I feel like they can get better here. It is great to see a bunch of faces back out here.”
On if the Browns will bring back additional players who the team cut yesterday to the practice squad, given the number of practice squad spots still available:
“It is in flux. It is also you are putting some guys on your practice squad that do not live in Ohio so we have to wait for them to travel into town potentially. Those are the type of things that we will work through that the next couple of days.”
On if DE Takk McKinley has been able to get back up to speed after missing some time:
“Yeah, I think he is working his way back. Spending a lot of time in the meeting rooms and a lot of time on the field here with Coach Kiff (defensive line coach Chris Kiffin) and (assistant defensive line) Coach (Jeremy) Garrett. Gets some good reps. He is working his way back.”
On the Browns keeping every player from the past two draft classes on the 53-man roster and if that is part of the team’s dedication to their development:
“Obviously, we want to do a good job in our draft evaluations as an organization, and certainty, that is the goal. To be able to do that and develop these young guys, it is a big piece of who we are. We want to have a bunch of good young players who we feel like with our coaches, with our strength staff and with all of the resources here that we can develop them into contributors.”
On if there is an advantage to having an extra week and almost a bye week without a fourth preseason game:
“That is new, obviously not having a game. It is also new having a mandated three-day weekend off the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. You have to think about with that already mandated across the league, what do you want to get accomplished this week leading into next week? Those are some of the things we talked about putting the plan together.”
On what the Browns want to get accomplished this week:
“Good question. Today obviously refining some skills, taking a look at some nuances and wrinkles to things that we want to do. Worked some crowd noise today. Worked two-minute drill today. There are a bunch of situational things that we are trying to put a check next to this week.”
On if he expects C JC Tretter to be ready for Week 1 after missing some time:
“I do.”
On who is the emergency C:
“(C) Nick Harris snaps for us. (G) Blake Hance snaps. (G) Joel (Bitonio) obviously has that ability. (G) Michael Dunn has that ability.”
On if LB Jacob Phillips has had surgery:
“He has had surgery. He is here. He is rehabbing here. Hopefully, he attacks this rehab like I know he will and then see where we are as he gets healthy.”
On if there is optimism that Phillips could play at some point this season:
“Yes.”