The Browns were back at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for practice on Monday following their first preseason game against the Bears. Cleveland is gearing up for its joint practice against the Bills on Thursday, which will heavily feature both teams' projected starters.
During Monday's practice, the quarterback competition continued while the defense performed well during 11-on-11 periods.
Here are three observations from Day 14 of training camp.
Quarterback competition enters second week of preseason
QB Shedeur Sanders took the first team reps during Monday's practice. QB Deshaun Watson took most of the second team reps while QB Dillon Gabriel took a couple reps with the second team offense as well.
Sanders started the first 11-on-11 period with a completion rolling to his left, hitting WR Jerry Jeudy by the left sideline. During the 11-on-11 period in the red zone, Sanders connected with TE Harold Fannin Jr. in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
Watson also connected with Fannin for a touchdown during the 11-on-11 red zone period, finding the tight end by the right pylon. During the last 11-on-11 period of practice, Watson layered a throw over the heads of defenders to TE Carsen Ryan.
11-on-11 observations
RB Dylan Sampson was heavily targeted in practice on Monday. During the red zone 11-on-11 period, Sanders found Sampson on a short pass for a solid gain. Watson also connected with Sampson by the left sideline for a touchdown in the red zone. In a different 11-on-11 portion of practice, Sanders located Sampson in space on the right side of the field. During the final 11-on-11 period, Sanders completed another pass to Sampson.
"He's electric with the ball in his hands," head coach Todd Monken said before practice about Sampson's pass catching ability. "So how do we get that to him? I think over time he's going to be a guy that's a tough matchup. He's learning how to…wasn't really what they did at Tennessee. Great point where we can get him to, when he gets matched up on a linebacker, be an advantage for us. I think he has that in him. You saw the catch he made on the sideline on a scramble here a week ago. So, there's a lot there to like now as we get to practice and get into games."
There were multiple position changes on the second team offensive line on Monday. T KT Leveston, who slotted in at left guard with the second team offense for most of last week, took reps at right tackle with the second unit on Monday. T Austin Barber took reps at right guard with the second team offense after he played right tackle during the Browns' preseason game against the Bears. T Dawand Jones, who took reps at right tackle with the second team last week, was at left tackle.
Defensive consistency on display
The defense continued to make plays on Day 14 of training camp. CB Michael Coats Jr. broke up a pass intended for WR Luke Floriea during the first 11-on-11 period of practice. In a different 11-on-11 period, Coats made another play to undercut a route from Floriea and force an errant throw from Watson.
In the second portion of 11-on-11 work, CB Denzel Ward recorded a pass breakup on a throw from Sanders intended for WR Denzel Boston. CB Myles Harden defended a deep pass from Sanders intended for WR Gage Larvadain during another 11-on-11 period.
During an 11-on-11 period, DE Isaiah McGuire blanketed Sampson on a deep route out of the backfield to force another incompletion and LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold pressured Sanders for a likely sack. Mascarenas-Arnold made also made a play in the run game to stuff RB Quinshon Judkins on a carry up the middle. S Ronnie Hickman also made a play in the backfield on Monday, blowing up an option run to Judkins during an 11-on-11 period.