Throughout the preseason, the defense has been tested. Joint practices against the Panthers and Eagles saw high temperatures, as well as high-caliber competition.
Across two weeks, three practices and two games, the Browns' defense was called on to contain players on the Panthers and Eagles like QB Jalen Hurts, QB Bryce Young, RB Saquon Barkley and WR Adam Thielen. Then, the defensive line also had the added factor of facing players like Panthers G Robert Hunt or Eagles T Lane Johnson in the trenches. However, when faced with the challenge, the defense thrived. In the trenches, the defensive line stuffed up runs and put pressure on both Hurts and Young, forcing them both to scramble out of the pocket and make throws on the run.
Cornerbacks Tony Brown II and Myles Harden both forced turnovers on pass plays, picking off a pass and forcing a fumble, respectively, in the joint practice with the Panthers. In Philadelphia, CB Denzel Ward went 1-on-1 with WR DeVonta Smith, finding ways to keep the ball out of his hands. Ward even went so far as to talk to Smith about what he does during 1-on-1 battles, trying to improve his game.
"We continue to come together as a team. But just that competition level and going against different guys, seeing different schemes, going against different players, that's how the season is going to be," Ward said on Aug. 19. "Just going out there and then getting to work, it was hot out there and just putting ourselves in a different feeling and situation, I think was good for the team."