The Cleveland Browns were on the field yesterday for the first official day of training camp.
For those of us not lucky enough to be there and see the action in person, here are some news and notes of interest from Day 1.
Quick #Browns camp day 1 takeaways:
1. Baker looked great, tons of completions in 7-on-7
2. OBJ was 😤🌬️100% running & cutting
3. Donovan Peoples-Jones & Anthony Schwartz made plays. WR competition behind top 2 going to be fun
4. Opportunity knocks early in camp for Mack Wilson— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) July 28, 2021
Baker Mayfield & OBJ
Mayfield enters his fourth year with the franchise’s expectations on his shoulders.
He is a polarizing figure with legions of diehard fans and dissenters.
Mayfield came out in Day 1 looking to be in midseason form, making strong throws with pinpoint accuracy.
On the other end of some of those passes was OBJ, nine months removed from a season-ending ACL injury.
He also did not look like a player just coming back from an ACL injury.
The route running and footwork were outstanding.
Baker Mayfield has been throwing with Odell for the last 10 minutes or so. OBJ looks as healthy as ever. #Browns pic.twitter.com/TSI5wJztBb
— Hayden Grove (@H_Grove) July 28, 2021
Wide Receivers Competing For WR3 Job
Second-year player Donovan Peoples-Jones likely entered the offseason believing Rashard Higgins was his chief competitor for the WR3 role.
DPJ starting #BrownsCamp off with a bang! 💥 @dpeoplesjones pic.twitter.com/92GggjoKpP
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) July 28, 2021
All of that changed during the NFL Draft when the Browns scooped up Anthony Schwartz in the third round.
Schwartz will get attention because of his speed.
Baker Mayfield hit Anthony Schwartz on a deep post route with Greedy Williams on the coverage @wkyc
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 28, 2021
He worked out in the offseason with Jarvis Landry.
On Day 1 of camp, he was getting some advice from the other veteran WR on the Browns roster, OBJ.
#Browns Anthony Schwartz spending lots of time chatting with OBJ and Jarvis Landry today. Two good mentors to have. pic.twitter.com/Tc9xEghDhM
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) July 28, 2021
Mack Wilson
Wilson has come out strong.
A starting position for him is uncertain.
However, with the lingering injury concerns for rookie Tony Fields, Wilson needs to show he belongs on this defense.
#Browns Kevin Stefanski said rookie LB Tony Fields injured the other foot from the one he hurt before rookie camp and will miss time. Happened during rookie/QB week last week.
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 28, 2021
Foot injuries are tricky, and now Fields has injuries to both feet.
This will definitely be a concern for the Browns even when he is able to get back on the field.
Tough to know how much they’re mixing and matching, but Anthony Walker Jr., Sione Takitaki and Mack Wilson look like your early first-team linebackers @wkyc
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) July 28, 2021
Greedy Williams
Another player trying to prove he belongs is Greedy Williams.
Coming off the nerve injury in his shoulder, everyone was eager to see him back on the field.
He had a short-term setback dealing with the heat yesterday.
#Browns CB Greedy Williams left the field with a trainer for a heat-related reason. Expected to be okay
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) July 28, 2021
Hopefully, we see more positive play from him during training camp.
Stay tuned for more excitement in Day 2.
NEXT: WR3 Competition Heating Up In Browns Training Camp
