BEREA ― The Browns got another day closer to playing against someone else besides each other. Their Aug. 11 training camp practice was the 12th such practice, and left them just three days away from their preseason opener in Chicago.
Day 12 of camp was one of the longer fully-padded practices, stretching over two hours and 15 minutes. It also was the day the Browns put out their first “unofficial” depth chart before the Aug. 15 preseason opener at the Bears.
There were few, if any, surprises with either the practice or the depth chart, which is about par for the course for where the Browns are through a dozen practices and just three days out from the first preseason game.
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As is custom, it’s time for the big takeaways from the day. Starting, as is also custom, with the quarterbacks.
No starter named, no hints given on who’ll be QB
Coach Todd Monken once again was not ready to officially announce whether it would be Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders starting at quarterback in Chicago. The depth chart also provided no indication either, as it put an “or” between the two under the starter’s spot.
The Browns don’t seem to be any rush to make it known, because they’re continuing to operate as they have for the better part of training camp. Watson was up with the No. 1 group on Day 12 after Sanders went the day before and is scheduled to go the next day as well.
Monken continues to stand by his plan to likely split the starts over the first two preseason games. Whoever starts in Chicago will likely come off the bench Aug. 22 at home against the Buffalo Bills.
There’s also a joint practice with the Bills on Aug. 20, when Monken has said he plans to split the reps between the two. All of which seems to indicate what everyone felt like they knew beforehand — the quarterback derby is likely heading toward the third preseason game before anything firm happens.
Deshaun Watson throws pick on nondescript day with No. 1s
The play that a lot of people will talk about from Watson’s actual day on the field was a throw into triple coverage and intercepted by cornerback Tyron Herring early in 11-on-11 drills. There was also a throw that corkscrewed out of his hand after it appeared he was jostled by defensive end Jared Verse as he threw the ball.
Otherwise, nothing either too bad or too good from Watson, who did have a nice throw to wide receiver Isaiah Bond on a post route for a score.
It was much the same for Sanders as he rolled with the No. 2 offense. By and large, he managed to avoid making the big turnover, although there were still some pre-snap issues the No. 2 offense as a whole had to clean up.
Dillon Gabriel also got some work with the No. 2s. He was a little erratic while he was in, including a pick by linebacker Nathaniel Watson.
Spencer Fano, Jared Verse developing nice in-practice rivalry
Rookie left tackle Spencer Fano and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Verse made a highlight Saturday, Aug. 8, when they squared off in a one-on-one fight in practice. It was the moment that seemed to crystalize Fano as the No. 1 left tackle, after he had alternated daily with Dawand Jones at the spot.
Fano and Verse carried their budding practice rivalry into Day 12. The two were constantly jawing at each other throughout, with Verse getting his share, but Fano holding his own.
It’s gotten heated a few times, including today. However, it’s never returned to the blows that were shared a few days before, as the two seem to understand the improvements both are getting better through the competition.
In fact, the two exchanged a dap at the end of the five vs. four drill to end practice, a drill designed to measure get-off at the snap. Fano held his own in the drill, so much so that the two combatants made sure to get a little salutatory helmet tap to each other afterward.
Cornerback the latest position getting hit by injuries
The Browns’ No. 1 cornerbacks on Day 12 of training camp were Tre Avery and Tyron Herring. The depth chart list Avery as the No. 4 cornerback behind Denzel Ward, and Herring was No. 5 behind Tyson Cambell.
Ward and Campbell were both nursing minor injuries. The Browns also didn’t have cornerbacks in D’Angelo Ross and Myles Bryant because of injury, and then lost Damarri Mathis to an apparent knee injury.
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Mathis, despite being on the depth chart sent out later that afternoon, was placed on injured reserve shortly after practice. Nate Evans, another listed well back on the depth chart, also got some run with the No. 1s.
It joins defensive tackle as an area where the depth is being challenged by injuries. Undrafted rookie Tyreak Sapp was working alongside Mason Graham with the No. 1s.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns training camp Day 12 takeaways include 1st look at a depth chart
Reporting by Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Chris Easterling, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
