Cleveland Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett (7) during warm-ups before an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, in Jacksonville, Fla.
CLEVELAND — Jacoby Brissett, who will start at quarterback for the Browns in the season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 11, beginning Aug. 14 will also take on the role as the starting quarterback in practice.
The Browns still do not know how many games Deshaun Watson will be suspended for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy regarding 24 massage therapists that accused him of sexual misconduct, but they know he will be banned for at least the first six games. Despite knowing that, Coach Kevin Stefanski wanted Watson to take the majority of training camp snaps with the first team with the plan to transition to having Brissett taking over after the first preseason game.
Watson, playing in his first game since Jan. 3, 2021 when he was with the Texans, completed one of five passes for seven yards against the Jaguars. He was on the field for three series and did not produce a first down.
“The plan really from the beginning is just to at some point let Jacoby get the majority of (snaps), still work Deshaun, still work Josh Dobbs and still work Josh Rosen, but Jacoby will get the majority starting this block,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said Saturday on a Zoom call. “Jacoby has gotten a lot of reps to date. I go back to the nine-week offseason program and the weeks we’ve been together, he’s gotten a ton of reps with the ones and with the twos. Even the way we structure our routes vs. air and individual period, he’s gotten a lot of reps with the quote-unquote ones and the twos.”
Stefanski, as expected, had a grim injury report on starting center Nick Harris. Harris suffered a right knee injury on the second play of the game with the Jaguars and had to be carted off the field.
“Nick Harris is likely going to need surgery, which would end his season,” Stefanski said. “We’re still gathering information, though, so I want to make sure that we have all of the information before we come to that conclusion.
“All of these injuries stink. You don’t like anybody to get injured. Nick certainly is a guy who has been working so hard this offseason. Really hoping that it isn’t a season-long thing because the kid just worked so hard.”
Return specialist Jakeem Grant sustained a season-ending Achilles tear in practice last week. Edge rusher Stephen Weatherly suffered a knee injury early in training camp. He will miss the entire season.
Ethan Pocic replaced Harris. For now, Pocic is the starter. Stefanski wouldn’t answer when asked about re-signing JC Tretter. Tretter, released in March, started every game for the Browns at center from 2017-20, He started 16 of 17 games last year but missed the Dec. 25 game in Green Bay because of COVID. Tretter, 31, remains a free agent.
“I won’t comment on roster type things.” Stefanski said. “That’s (General Manager) Andrew (Berry) and his crew. But I do want to make note that Ethan did a nice job (against the Jaguars), and he has done a nice job since April. I’m excited about what he can bring to the table.”
Stefanski did not overreact to results from the 24-13 victory over the Jaguars, good or bad. Wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, for example, dropped two passes.
“Obviously, you’re going to have some drops as a receiver,” Stefanski said. “He takes them personally. Any receiver always takes those personally and wants to get better the next time. Preseason games are for work. You go out there, you make a mistake, you correct it and you get back to work.”
Rookie cornerback M.J. Emerson returned an interception 76 yards for a touchdown to give the Browns the lead for good, 14-13, in the second quarter. The Browns selected Emerson in the third round of the 2022 draft.
“I would say a small sample size,” Stefanski said. “I do think you have to point that out. I just want him to take the practice field to the game field. I think that’s what he did last night. He needs to continue to do that. We’ve talked about him really since we got him.
“He’s a very, very diligent kid. He wants to get better. He spends a lot of time in the meeting room, on the field and extra time on the field because he wants to perform at a high level for us.”
Running back Jerome Ford carried five times for 57 yards and caught four passes for 47 yards. The rookie fifth-round pick scored two touchdowns.
“We were excited when we got Jerome in the first place,” Stefanski said. “We identified him pretty early in the process as a guy who would be a fit.
“With training camp, it’s hard to evaluate running backs when they’re not getting tackled. But his skillset shows up in practice as a runner with really good feet and as a pass receiver. What he was able to do in a live setting in a game setting was really what we would expect. Young player, was not perfect and made some mistakes that we have to clean up.”
Ford fumbled the ball away while trying to fight for yardage after catching a pass in the second half.
