PHILADELPHIA – The most important days of training camp are here for the Browns.
Cleveland will have two days of joint practices against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday and Thursday before the second preseason game on Saturday.
Joint practices, particularly against Philly, have told us a lot about the Browns in recent years.
In 2022, when the Browns defense struggled against the likes of AJ Brown and Dallas Goedert, it foreshadowed trouble and a season’s worth of breakdowns. On the flip side, a dominant performance by the Browns D-line and praise from the Eagles O-line about the unit in 2023 was just a preview of the top-ranked defense in the league that year.
In the 2025 version, the main topic of discussion will be the Browns’ QB battle. With Kenny Pickett not likely to participate in team drills, Joe Flacco is poised to get a majority of the reps in the two practices, while Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel will likely split the game reps.
While the QBs are the main story for Cleveland, there are other things to watch in these practice sessions, however.
Here are some of the most notable non-QB storylines to know over the next two days:
Browns’ young defense against a formidable Eagles front and ground game
The Browns’ defense had a good showing in the first preseason game, a 30-10 win against the Panthers, but now it will be about building for a unit that has experienced a youth movement this offseason.
It will be particularly important days for Cleveland’s top two 2025 draft picks, DT Mason Graham and LB Carson Schwesinger.
The Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the league, featuring left tackle Jordan Mailata, left guard Landon Dickerson (who will be unavailable after suffering a right knee injury during an open practice on Sunday) center Cam Jurgens, right guard Tyler Steen, and right tackle Lane Johnson.
Combined, the unit has 10 Pro Bowls.
The Browns defense won’t be able to relax even if they manage to get the edge on this O-line, however.
They’ll still have to deal with running back Saquon Barkley, the reigning league rushing leader (2,005 regular season rushing yards) and NFL Offensive Player of the Year; and one of the league’s most-mobile quarterbacks in Jalen Hurts, fresh off his Super Bowl MVP season.
Day 10 Browns Training Camp, August 4, 2025
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Diontae Johnson makes a catch against Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward during a drill at day ten of Browns training camp in Berea. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
Ward and the nickel corner battle
Denzel Ward is coming off of maybe his best individual season in which he led the NFL with 17 pass breakups.
He’s performed extremely well in training camp and the offseason going against the Browns’ No. 1 receiver Jerry Jeudy and giving the Browns’ QBs tough looks amid their position battle.
How Ward faces off against the likes of Goedert and Brown is sure to make headlines, as is the Cleveland position battle for the nickel corner spot with Martin Emerson Jr. out for the year after tearing his Achilles.
Greg Newsome II has transitioned to playing more outside rather than his usual spot in the slot. Cameron Mitchell and Myles Harden are the two other names to watch for this week. The Browns will also rotate some safeties into the role.
Day 12 Browns Training Camp, August 11, 2025
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett tosses Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson to the ground during 11-on-11 drills at day twelve of Browns training camp in Berea. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
The Browns’ run game
Cleveland looked to revitalize its run game this offseason, but how will it hold up against an Eagles D that gave up an average of 104.2 yards per game last year?
Things have not gone according to plan in training camp considering Cleveland’s No. 36 overall pick, Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins, hasn’t been with the team at all after being charged with domestic violence in Florida last month.
Expect a lot of Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson on the ground – but the latter is coming off a difficult practice at home on Monday in which Myles Garrett grabbed him around the waist and slammed him to the ground during one team drill.
The Eagles will provide a good barometer for where things stand with this aspect of the offense.
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