The Browns have been rotating quarterbacks Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders with the first team from day to day at training camp, so any deviation from that schedule is sure to grab attention.
Such a deviation came on Saturday. Head coach Todd Monken said before practice that it would be Sanders working with the first team, but multiple reporters shared that Watson received all of the work with the first team.
Monken did not speak to the media after practice. A team spokesman said, via multiple reporters, that Monken changed the plans because he wanted to see Watson with certain personnel groups.
Earlier this week, Monken clarified a report that both quarterbacks will get a start in the preseason by saying that “if it’s still a competition at that time, why wouldn’t you start one and start the other” without targeting any date for the competition to end. The Browns play their first preseason game next Saturday, so the identity of the first guy up as the starter should come early in the week.
The Browns plucked a defensive lineman off of the waiver wire on Friday.
They announced the addition of defensive tackle Patrick Jenkins to the roster. They had opened up a roster spot earlier in the day by placing offensive lineman Kendrick Green on injured reserve.
Jenkins was let go by the Jets on Thursday and he was in training camp with the Cardinals last summer. He also spent some time on the Falcons’ practice squad late in the regular season.
Jenkins played for Columbus in the UFL this spring. He had 22 tackles, six tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks in 10 games.
The Browns announced a handful of roster moves on Friday.
Guard Kendrick Green has been placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll either spend the whole season on the list or get released with an injury settlement once he’s on track to return to action. Green played one game for the Browns last season and played in 36 games for the Steelers and Texans earlier in his career.
The Browns also announced that they have signed offensive lineman Jack Conley and cornerback Jeadyn Lukus. Conley was on the practice squad in Cleveland last season and Lukus was waived by the Titans last weekend.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash and linebacker Reid Carrico were waived to round out the Friday morning moves for the Browns.
For a decade, Hall of Famer Joe Thomas anchored the Browns’ offensive line at left tackle.
With training camp ongoing, Thomas has been at the facility this week to assist with coaching the rebuilt group at the behest of head coach Todd Monken.
Monken revealed to reporters after Thursday’s practice that he offered Thomas a full-time job after he was hired in January.
“Well, when I was interviewing for the job and then when I got the job, I reached out to Joe,” Monken said in his press conference. “Joe, obviously, played for [offensive line coach] George Warhop as well. And I said, hey, we’ve got a spot for you if you want to help us coach. And he said, ‘I’d love to coach.’ He said, ‘I don’t think I want to commit to an everyday contract.’ I said, ‘That’s fine. Anytime you want to come out and help our guys, you’re more than welcome.’ And we certainly would welcome him.”
With the Browns bringing in offensive tackle Spencer Fano with the No. 9 overall pick of this year’s draft, Thomas likely had some useful pointers for the rookie to excel as he begins his first season.
The forgotten man in the Cleveland quarterback rotation is forcing himself into the conversation by performing well in practice. But Dillon Gabriel has yet to officially enter the competition to win the starting quarterback job with the Browns.
Does he feel disrespected by that?
“Never disrespected,” Gabriel told reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t take things personally, it’s a business. I’m focused on what I need to do to get better, and that’s all I’m focused on. I’m present with that.”
Gabriel also was asked whether he believes earning more reps gives him a chance to seize the job.
“I’m really just focused on mastering my reps,” Gabriel said. “I really appreciate [pass game coordinator] Danny Bryer and [senior director of player development] James Cook. James Cook and [offensive skill development specialist] Demetric Felton are big on walkthroughs in the morning, which helps set me up for a good day. And afterwards with Danny Bryer, a guy I’ve really leaned on, getting coached up — three or five reps, talking through it as best I can and improving. And same with [assistant quarterbacks] coach [Matt] Baker, he’s been really good for me.”
Contributing to the perception that Gabriel is an afterthought is the manner in which he was strong-armed into giving up No. 8 to Jared Verse. Dillon was asked about his new number, 6.
“Yeah, I don’t really care about numbers,” Gabriel said. “My freshman year in high school, I remember I got pulled up to varsity wearing 96. . . . No, no attachment to any numbers. There may be some cool things to certain numbers that everyone tells themselves once they get a new number, but for the most part it’s just a number.”
That’s the right attitude. Although some players believe their number becomes part of their identity, it’s simply a mechanical feature allowing the officials and the opponent to more easily track the player. There’s no real reason to become emotionally invested in it.
Players change teams. When they do, they change uniforms. Changing the number on a uniform is no different. For Gabriel, the far more important number is the one he’ll eventually be assigned on the depth chart.
