Training Camp Preview: 5 Issues to Watch as Browns Prepare for Return to Greenbrier

The Browns board a plane Thursday for the short flight to The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The training camp excursion was an experiment for the organization last year. This time, it’s an attempt to recreate the bonding experience of a year ago that fueled a run to the playoffs despite a mountain of early-season adversity.

“Attack it the same way, but keep trying to improve where we fell short,” Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett said during minicamp in June. “Whether it was those bonding moments, making sure all the guys got out of the rooms, went over plays, walked through plays, went out to dinner, talked about the game.

“At that point, it’s time to commit. We’re away for a reason. Take it as a business trip, not a vacation, and we don’t have to treat it that way.”

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The Browns will spend nine days and eight nights at The Greenbrier through Aug. 2 to kick off camp before returning to Berea for six practices that are open to the public. Coach Kevin Stefanski is a strong believer in getting away with the team after spending nearly his entire coaching career with the Vikings, who left the Twin Cities for training camp.

“I think the guys realize it’s good to be under the same roof, it’s good to be together,” he said. “It’s good that they’re playing X amount of Ping-Pong games. It all adds up.

“You can do team building exercises. You can also just put everyone under one roof and things like that will happen automatically.”

One change from last year is noticeable.

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Many players weren’t thrilled a year ago about the news that they would be heading to the remote resort in the mountains of West Virginia. While the logistics may still be unappealing, the locker room was won over by the experience.

Throughout the playoff season, players at all levels said the trip created a special team chemistry. They spent hours together eating, playing video games, playing ping pong and cornhole, and getting to know each other.

Below are five issues the Browns will face as they report to Berea on Tuesday, take a walk on Wednesday and practice for the first time in West Virginia on Thursday.

To show up?

Everyone must report on time. No. 1 receiver Amari Cooper may not.

Cooper skipped the offseason program, including mandatory minicamp, and it’s unclear whether he’ll continue the holdout in training camp. He wants a new and improved contract as he enters the final year of his deal and has seen the market for receivers skyrocket.

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Cooper has performed exceptionally well in his two years with the Browns, including reaching his fifth Pro Bowl last year after throwing for a career-best 1,250 yards. The Browns don’t want to spend a ton of money long-term on a 30-year-old receiver, but there’s optimism the two sides can reach a deal that leaves Cooper happy with an influx of guaranteed money.

Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans (30) was guaranteed $35 million in March, and a two-year, $50 million extension with $30 million guaranteed could be the ideal solution for Cooper.

If either party is not willing to compromise to that extent, things can become difficult and fraught.

Cooper is the best option in the passing game and the Browns don’t have a suitable replacement. Cooper is also close to quarterback Deshaun Watson and a respected team leader, so an extended absence could affect both morale and production.

The same could happen if Cooper comes forward to avoid the mandatory $50,000-per-day fine but is openly unhappy about it.
Time is running out for the Browns to get something done and start training camp without too many distractions.

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Ready or not?

Despite the stunning and encouraging videos that have circulated on social media in recent weeks, Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb is expected to open camp on the unable to perform list. That has always been the likely scenario as Chubb attempts to return from a pair of surgeries on his left knee to repair serious damage, including a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Starting on the active PUP list means Chubb can be activated whenever he’s deemed ready to practice. The Browns don’t have to rush him, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if his first game doesn’t come until October.

In the meantime, he can continue his rehabilitation, which appears to be going well.

In June, Chubb said he was limited to running. Since then, he’s been filmed doing balance and agility exercises on one leg, then squatting 550 pounds. He’s made a tradition of posting a squat video — bending the bar under all that weight at his Georgia high school — as he prepares to return from summer break, but it was a surprise given the injury and surgeries.

“Nobody on our team ever doubted Chubb,” Watson said Wednesday during his high school seven-on-seven tournament. “If you have any doubts about Chubb, I think you’re rooting for the wrong team.”

The new look

Organized team activities and minicamp provided a glimpse of new coordinator Ken Dorsey’s impact on the offensive system. Training camp and preseason will provide an in-depth study.

Dorsey has experience with quarterbacks who threaten the run — Cam Newton in Carolina, Josh Allen in Buffalo — and has employed an offense that features more spread and shotgun elements than the Browns did in Stefanski’s four years leading the offense. The Browns won’t give up the run, but they will lean on the pass and look to capitalize on Watson’s strengths.

Watson is excited about the freedom he has in store as Dorsey, Stefanski and the rest of the revamped offensive staff continue to tweak the scheme.

“It’s beautiful,” Watson said. “It’s fun, it’s exciting and he and Kevin are doing a great job of putting together a nice playbook for all of us to go out there and execute at a high level and be one of the best teams in the NFL, and that’s the plan and we’re going to take it day by day and just build on it.”

One mystery remains. Stefanski has yet to announce (and possibly decide) whether he will continue calling plays or hand the responsibility to Dorsey. Stefanski could answer the question early in camp or wait until he sees how the preseason games go.

Ready to leave

Watson would have been higher on this list, but his surgically repaired right shoulder passed all offseason tests with flying colors. He threw deep and with velocity in minicamp and should be able to return to 100 percent of his normal reps at some point during camp.

That’s a huge relief for the Browns.

But Watson is still on the list because this is a crucial season for his future in Cleveland and the direction of his career.

Watson sat out the 2021 season with the Texans and was limited to six games in each of his two years with the Browns. Now entering the third year of his five-year, fully guaranteed, $230 million contract, he’s a long way from making that happen. He’s also years removed from his most recent of three Pro Bowl appearances with the Texans.

The Browns have done a lot to support Watson on and off the field and give him the best chance to succeed. Shoulder injuries were the biggest issue last year, but it’s up to Watson to be available and play more consistently.

The Browns have one of the best rosters in the league. They just need Watson to play like one of the best quarterbacks.

Health check

Right tackle Jack Conklin, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and running back/returner Nyheim Hines join Chubb as candidates to start camp on PUP while they recover from knee surgeries last year. Others could also start camp on the sidelines, either on PUP or just slowly making their way back to the field.

Conklin has struggled with injuries in recent years, suffering a torn ACL in last season’s season opener. He’s been posting optimistic messages on social media recently, but he and the Browns need to proceed with caution. If he can stay healthy, he’d be valuable insurance for projected starters Wills and Dawand Jones.

Wills missed the final nine games last year and underwent surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament. He did not practice during the offseason and could start camp on the sidelines as he enters the final year of his rookie contract.

Hines’ torn ACL occurred in a water scooter accident. He said in May that he expected to return to training early in camp, if not on Day 1.

He was brought in to improve the passing and return games and has experience with Dorsey and special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone. He is motivated to get back on the field and make up for lost time.

Browns writer for The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette. Proud graduate of Northwestern University. Husband and stepfather. An avid golfer who has to hit the driving range to break a single-digit handicap. Right about Johnny Manziel, wrong about Brandon Weeden. Contact Scott at 440-329-7253, or email him and follow him on and Twittering.