Browns Training Camp 2017: Day 16 Clips and Quips

Day 16 of Cleveland Browns training camp concluded on Wednesday, and you can find our full Day 16 recap here. Not many players or coaches spoke today, but we do have some quotes from Hue Jackson and tight end David Njoku.

There are also some Joe Thomas quotes available. You can find them here, thanks to Robo Dawg.

Hue Jackson

• Jackson opened his post-practice press availability on Wednesday with an opening statement.

“Day five. Getting through it. One more. Six days, it is the six day hump. If they can get through it then we will be past the training camp part of it, but they have done a good job. Again, our guys are resilient. They come out, they fight [and] they work. I know they are tired, I know they are hurting, but like I told them, so are 31 other teams, so we have to find a way to keep pushing through and they do. We just have to keep getting better.”

• Let’s see what he had to say on injuries to offensive linemen Joel Bitonio and Cam Erving.

“Yeah, obviously I am sure you guys have heard that they both have a couple injuries. And so, they are going to be week-to-week. We will see where they are and hopefully, we get them back as soon as we can. I know our medical staff, they do everything they can to get our guys back soon. But I don’t think it is anything major that is going to keep them out a ton of time. I just think we have to work through some things to make sure we get those guys both healthy.”

• Will those two be ready to play Week 1 vs. Pittsburgh?

“I hope so. I mean, I hope to have them then. But again, we just never know medically how these things work. But I think we are right in that window where we have an opportunity to have them both back and ready to go and I feel good about that. We will see how that goes.”

• Will it be veteran John Greco who will start at left guard for the time being?

“Yes he will.”

• Jackson announced his quarterback rotation for Monday night’s matchup against the New York Giants.

“Yes I have, yes I have. Brock (Osweiler) is going to start. DeShone (Kizer) is going to go second. And Cody (Kessler) will play third and then Kevin (Hogan) will play fourth.”

• Will Osweiler’s play time will increase on Monday night?

“I don’t know that it will increase. I know he is going to walk out there first. It could decrease. Again, I want to see these young guys play quite a bit.”

• Jackson said he wants to see Kizer player before halftime this week, so he’s having him go second in the rotation.

“Yes I do. And that is why I am going to put him out there second.”

• Jackson addressed earlier comments by Joe Thomas, who said he beleives Osweiler is being groomed to start Week 1.

“I think our players all have opinions. Joe is here every day and sees what is going on. That is good that he feels that way. That means Brock is doing some good things in the locker room and on the field. But at the same time, I think Joe knows that I get to make that decision (laughter). I do talk to our players because I think it is important. Our players know exactly what I am thinking all the time, but we will see how it all unfolds. There is a chance that could happen, and there is a chance that couldn’t happen. We are just going to work through it and keep going.”

• Speaking of Thomas, he won’t be playing Monday night.

“Joe Thomas? No, he will not play in this game. No. He will not. I am not going to go back on that.”

• With Thomas sitting out and Erving injured, the team will turn to a rookie at left tackle for the matchup with the Giants.

“Yes it will. Roderick Johnson. We will stick him over there, and let’s go. We have been through this before (laughter). Here we go.”

• What’s his rationale for starting Osweiler and bringing in Kizer after him?

“I still think right now where we are that Brock deserves the opportunity to walk out there first. I think seeing DeShone, again last week--it was in the second half. I want to see him now in the first half, and see what he can do there. I will give him an opportunity there to showcase his talent and ability, and then we will put Cody in and go from there.”

• What has Osweiler shown him in training camp, now that’s been given more work with the first team?

“I think he has done a good job of managing our offense, putting people in the right spots and the right places. Brock is a pro. He has done this. He is not going to get fooled by many things. Obviously, he would be the first to tell you there are some throws he wants to make better, some things he wants to do better and he will work at those things, but I think he deserves to go out there first, and we will go from there.”

• Jackson finally gave somewhat of an answer on when he plans to announce his starting quarterback, but remained non-committal.

“I think the major game in the preseason is the third game. I think hopefully we will have it all nailed down about exactly where we are headed and where we are going. I think whoever trots out there (in the third preseason game) has a very good chance of trotting out there against the Steelers.”

• What’s his views on rookie tight end David Njoku’s progress to this point?

“No doubt. He is getting there. I think he is getting in better shape, first and foremost. Getting back into football and doing it every day and the grind of it and bumping into each other. I am very excited about watching him on Monday. He needs to go out and make plays. He is a very talented young man, has a lot of ability, but he has to go show us that he can do it in a game.”

• Has Emmanuel Ogbah had a ‘quiet’ training camp this year?

“I think it is because you guys are watching (DL) Myles (Garrett) all the time. (Laughter). No, he has done well. I mean, he has done extremely well. We are very happy with his development and where he is headed. I think having the other players –(DL) Danny Shelton, (DL) Myles Garrett, (DL) Desmond Bryant and (DL Trevon) Coley and the other guys up front. It is only going to make Emmanuel even better because I think some things are going to naturally get pushed to him because of Myles and the other guys. I think he is going to make those plays. I think he is doing well.”

• Jackson re-affirmed his support for Erving, who has been embattled since being drafted in the first round.

“He has shown some good things. He has shown some inconsistency, too. He needs to continue to get better. I think he is growing. I think he was right on the cusp of really making that next jump –the more you play out there. So it is unfortunate this happened. But at the same time, I think Cam is talented and we just have to keep getting him better.”

David Njoku

• What are his thoughts heading into his first NFL game, and it being a Monday night game against the New York Giants?

“Exciting. Very exciting and the best part about it is it is against a team that I grew up loving so it is going to be really fun. Can’t wait.”

• What has changed to help him look more comfortable on the field lately?

“I just feel good. I feel good. You feel good, you can play good.”

• Is it maybe because he’s settling into the NFL game?

“Yeah, everything is slowing down a little bit. I am just having fun playing football.”

• Is he getting enough reps with starting quarterback Brock Osweiler?

“I see a quarterback, a quarterback throws to me and I try to catch it. It doesn’t matter who it is, I just try to catch every ball.”

• How much more comfortable is he within the offense now than at the beginning of training camp?

“A lot more comfortable. I am finally getting everything down pat so I am just going to keep working and see how far it takes me.”