Head Coach Kevin Stefanski (8.18.24)
Opening Statement:
“Okay, obviously, like we talked about last night, some good and some bad. So, we’re watching the tape this morning. Going to highlight those things that we can teach off of with our players, and we’ll do that. And then looking forward to getting on an airplane and heading out to Seattle. We’ll treat this week like a regular season week as a schedule. There will be plenty of things that wouldn’t be exactly like a regular season week. We’ll still do some competitive Browns versus Browns periods out there at practice, but going to try to get the coaches, players, staff used to the rhythm of a regular season work week. But with that, I’ll take any questions.
Obviously, you said it’s going to be as much like a regular season practice as possible. Does that mean that starters will get majority reps and, like, will we see guys like Jedrick Willis back at practice?
“Yeah, the reps this week, to your point, Justin (Cooper), will not be exactly like a regular season. We’re still working in some of the younger players. As to Jed, he will not be practicing this week but continues to work very hard.”
Can you update us on your other tackles, specifically the three that got injured last night?
“Sure. James Hudson has an ankle injury. He won’t play this week, but he will be back soon. Germain (Ifedi) should be good to go, had a hand injury, but he’s good to go. Hakeem (Adeniji) is out for a little bit with a knee injury, which I’m disappointed for him. You know, I will highlight his effort on that play was unbelievable. Running down – and those are types of things I thought you can really, you can teach off of those moments with your players. So, his effort was unbelievable. Snoop (Tyler) Huntley throws an interception, is extremely disappointed, his helmet comes flying off. He runs, grabs his helmet, puts it back on and runs the defender down. So just wanted to highlight that while talking about Hakeem’s injury because it happened on that play. But disappointed, but we’ll get him back as soon as we can.”
With those tackle injuries, you said James won’t be out long and Germain won’t. So does that feel like you don’t have to make maybe major moves at that position because if you had lost three guys, it could have been, you know, you’d have to go find some guys?
Yeah, I think we’re working through all those type of things, Scott (Petrak), really, at every position. Obviously, we mentioned this last night, nobody loves the injury piece of this, but, when it happens, we have to do our due diligence and look around and that type of thing. But I feel confident certainly in the group that we have.
And do you have an update on Giovanni (Ricci)?
“Knee injury. He’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
We haven’t asked you about Nick Chubb for a couple days. Do you anticipate him coming off PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) before you have to cut to 53?
“Yeah, I’m not going to get too far down the road on that type of stuff, Jeff (Schudel). I will tell you, I get to see him work out every day. He’s doing everything that he’s supposed to do and more, but not going to get too far down the road.”
Just looking at the D-line room, like the last few weeks, basically all of camp, I mean, it just seems like you guys have so much depth from top to bottom. Like, how much of the position battles there do you think are coming up? It just seems like there’s so much depth there that you guys just aren’t going to have enough spots for everybody.
“Yeah, you certainly need depth in this league, and that’s one position that we feel strong about. But, yeah, I think when you have tough decisions to make, that’s good news for your organization. So, I really see tough decisions to make throughout this roster. We’re going to work through that over the course of the next couple of weeks before you have to make that decision. But that’s, to your point, a very good room with some good young players, some good veterans, guys that really push each other. But again, that’s part of our job as coaches, as evaluators, as Andrew’s (Berry) job is to find out who the right 53 are but doesn’t mean it’s an easy job.”
Hey Kevin, wanted to ask you about another position that’s really been hit hard by injuries this whole camp and this linebacker… First off, any updates on Jordan (Hicks) or Tony (Fields III) and if you’re expecting them to play at all this week against Seattle? And also how have some of the younger guys, guys like, Devin Bush and Mohamoud (Diabate), you know, some of those guys really developed over taking advantage of this opportunity?
“Tony and Jordan continue to get better, they’re doing better. They likely will not play in this game, but they’re both doing better. And then to your point, Chris (Easterling), yeah, I think Mohamoud has had some really, really good moments in these games. Not perfect, things that I know he can do better. I know that coach Tarv (Jason Tarver) will work very hard with him to get him better, but he’s doing a nice job calling the defense, making plays, playing with great effort. And similarly, Devin, you know, new system for him, but to come in and kind of learn some different techniques and those type of things, I think he’s had some good moments in these games as well.”
Hey, Kevin, real quick on (Zaire) Mitchell-Paden. Was he okay like you thought, or did you get an update?
“He’s fine.”
Okay. And then Nick Harris, how would you characterize his transition back to the Browns, and how did he play last night for you?
“Yeah, transition has been very, very smooth. Not real surprised, just knowing the type of person Nick is, both as a teammate and just a super intelligent player. A lot of those centers are very cerebral, Nick’s in that category. Picked everything up very well, played well. So he’s a guy that, you know, we’re glad we got him, and really, he hasn’t missed a beat.”
Kevin, I got a couple. With Giovanni being out, what have you seen out of Zaire?
“Yeah, Zaire continues, Scott (Petrak) – gets better every single day. He’s a young man that works extremely hard at his craft. In early, out late, constantly catching extra balls, getting extra work in the weight room, whatever it may be, just works hard at his craft. So a young player continuing to get better.”
You guys have been listening or whatever on the official roster, Giovanni is a fullback. Can other guys do whatever role you envisioned for him while he’s out?
“Yeah, there are candidates, definitely, Scott. You have fullbacks that can line up at tight end, you have tight ends that can line up fullback. So there’s a little bit of that, and we’ll work through all those things over the next few weeks.”
Hey Kevin, with Jed not practicing this weekend, Hudson saying not long-term injury, is the plan for him to start then going into week one?
“Yeah, we’ll wait on all those type of decisions, really focus is on this week, and we’ll work through all that.”
With all of us writing and talking about this tackle situation for the last couple of weeks and then the injuries from last night, it almost seems like the sky is falling for you guys at left tackle and that the situation is so dire. So, can you kind of maybe reset that a little bit and give your view on why this is going to be okay and why you feel good about the future at the position?
“Yeah, we’re just working, Mary Kay (Cabot). I understand what you’re saying, and I can understand what that may look like, but for us, we feel really good about the people we have in this building. We got guys that are working hard to get back, and we’ll just deal with it day-to-day.”
Kevin, I’m sorry if I missed this early. What is the plan with Deshaun (Watson) on Saturday? How much will he play?
“Like I told you guys, the plan is for him to play. I always take in information, so I’m going to make sure I talk to him and work through that this week. I’m not going to get into who plays and how much just yet, but going to certainly work through that in the next couple of days.”
Okay so, a series? Two? A quarter?
“Yeah, everything’s on the table. But like I mentioned last night, I think what we have to do is just always; we have a plan, look at it, see what’s available, do we want to alter anything? So we’ll work through that in the next couple days.”