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USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Browns QB Kenny Pickett predicted to enter training camp as QB1
The Cleveland Browns' quarterback battle is about to begin with the start of 2025 training camp on July 23rd. Rookies and veterans have officially reported to Berea, and to kick things off, Mary Kay Cabot of predicts that Kenny Pickett will have the upper hand early in camp. 'My guess is that Kenny Pickett still has a slight edge in terms of being No. 1 on the depth chart heading into training camp, but that could quickly change,' Mary Kay said in the latest edition of 'Hey Mary Kay!' She also broke down the unique circumstances surrounding the Browns' quarterback situation. With four quarterbacks competing for playing time this season, it's shaping up to be a different kind of training camp for the team: 'It might not be easy to determine where the QBs fall on the imaginary depth chart in the first two weeks of camp, because the Browns will continue two-spotting—or splitting—the four QBs on two different fields to maximize their reps,' Many fans will argue and speculate about Joe Flacco not getting starting quarterback reps in camp, but his experience in the NFL and with the team speaks louder than practice reps. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and the organization know what Flacco can provide if they choose to start him at the beginning of the regular season. There's no question that the quarterback room will be a major storyline throughout training camp. While it's unlikely that rookies Shedeur Sanders or Dillon Gabriel will start in Week 1, they'll still have plenty of opportunities behind their veteran competition on the roster.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Browns announce 8 open practices during training camp
The Cleveland Browns are set to return to the field in just under a month as training camp is quickly approaching. Ahead of training camp, the Browns have released their complete list of practices that are open for fans to attend. Typically, the Browns have grandstands to watch, and some interactive activities for kids to participate in at their facility in Berea as the team grinds out another day to get better. Advertisement Tickets will go out to the public at 10am on July 3. Season ticket holders will get priority access to tickets to training camp one day earlier. They are free. So, if you are interested in attending, what days can you head to the team facility? Here is the complete list of open practices available to the public as the Browns return to the field during training camp: Friday, July 25 (2pm) Saturday, July 26 (9:30am) Monday, July 28 (2pm) Tuesday, July 29 (2pm) Wednesday, July 30 (2pm) Friday, August 1 (2pm) Saturday, August 2 (9:30am) Monday, August 4 (2pm) This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: Browns announce 8 open practices during training camp
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former NFL Player Chris Scott Texted All His Friends About His Prostate Cancer Diagnosis, Inspired by His 'Prayer Warrior' Wife Debra
Chris Scott, a onetime player for the Indianapolis Colts, realized more people than he knew had also faced prostate cancer He wants to draw attention to the health issue to encourage others to get screened His wife Debra has helped him as a caregiver and "prayer warrior"When retired NFL player Chris Scott was diagnosed with prostate cancer, his wife called everyone they knew and asked them to start praying. "My wife, she's a prayer warrior," says Chris Scott, 63, of Berea, Ohio. "She called everybody." His wife's outreach inspired him to also start texting his own friends, and he was surprised to hear that many of them, too, had fought prostate cancer. Now Scott shares his story to encourage other men to talk about prostate cancer, and to encourage one another to be proactive in their health and get their PSA checked. Chris Scott was a defensive end who played at Purdue, before playing three seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. A knee injury forced him to retire. He and his now-wife Debra Scott, 61, a retired day care worker, met at Bible study; she was a 26-year-old single mom, and he was a 28-year-old single dad. They became very close friends. He opened her fridge one day and saw it was empty, so he went to the grocery store and fully stocked her refrigerator and freezer. When he noticed she was cold, he bought her a warm winter coat. 'Chris is a very generous man,' she says. 'Chris always has protected me, always. He has shielded me from so many things that I would've had to deal with myself, but I didn't have to. He's just really a good husband and a great father." He still puts gasoline in her car. The couple are very active in their church and constantly together. "People say it all the time. If I see Chris, I see Debra right behind him," she says. In 2019, Chris had a comprehensive health exam at the Cleveland Clinic via The Trust, a program for former professional football players which provides access to the the Cleveland Clinic's executive health program. Every five years, Chris spends three days and two nights having a series of health tests. He weighed 365 pounds and doctors told him he needed to lose weight. They were "very concerned" about high blood pressure and heart disease, Chris says. Three years later, in 2022, he ran into a friend he played high school football with. 'He was all lean and mean, I said, 'Man, what did you do?'' His friend shared the details of his keto diet, and so Chris and his wife Debra went on the keto diet together. 'I said, 'Okay, I'll do it with you,'' she says. 'We do everything together.' They cut down their sugar, and threw away the pasta in their pantry. When Chris Scott returned to the Cleveland Clinic in January 2024 for his scheduled testing, he had lost 50 pounds, which "made all of the difference as far as [my] health is concerned,' he says. Though most of hs numbers looked so much better, he recalled, they were concerned about Chris's PSA levels. They made a urologist appointment for him that week, where they did a biopsy. The next day, the doctor told him all 12 samples had cancer. 'It felt like a death sentence,' Chris says. Chris's father had died of prostate cancer. 'I was anxious and very nervous,' Debra says. 'I just saw death. I said, 'Oh he's dying. He's going to die.' " Urologist Dr. Urma Lengu assured Debra that wasn't going to happen. 'She was an amazing woman,' Debra says. 'She says 'Mrs. Scott, this is not a death sentence. It will be okay.'' When they left her office, Debra first called her older sister, whose husband survived prostate cancer, with the same treatment Chris' doctor was recommending, and who helped Debra think positively. Her sister "was that quiet person in the storm" Debra says. Then she called everyone else she knew and asked them to pray. 'It helped me,' Chris says — because after his wife told her friends, he started telling his. He texted his friends on his Purdue Football Player Alumni text chain, and other players reached out and told them they also had prostate cancer and they shared their stories and helped him make decisions and research his doctors. He had surgery to remove his prostate on April 11, 2024. 'I was on pins and needles the whole time,' Debra says. 'My faith is strong, but when you're not praying for another person, you're praying for your own life, it looks a little different.' Doctors determined his prostate cancer was Stage 3. After the surgery, he was in recovery. But then Debra received a text that he was moved to the ICU. Because of his sleep apnea, he was having trouble coming out of anesthesia. When she reached his hospital room he was gasping for air. "He got scared. So he panicked. When I got into the room, this big man of mine, this 6'5", over 200-lb. football player of mine is in tears and stretching his hand out for me saying, 'Please just come hug me and pray with me,' I lose it. ... [but] I had to stay really calm. By the time I left, he was relaxed.' The couple says they are 'thankful' and 'so grateful" for what has come since. 'He was able to just get the right timing for every doctor. Everything went the right way for us to be able him to come out cancer free,' Debra says. Chris now tells all the men in his life, including his 40-year-old son, to check their PSA levels. Even his own father didn't talk about his prostate cancer. Chris says he read about it on his father's death certificate. 'Men keep everything a secret," he says. "My dad never told us he had prostate cancer, he kept it to himself." Chris now tells all the men in his life, including his 40-year-old son, to check their PSA levels. 'When I started talking about my prostate cancer, it seemed like every man out of the woodwork started talking about it. I had to be the voice to say something.' Debra spent her career caring for others, but being her husband's caregiver was difficult. She took time off from her part-time job at the Hallmark store to care for her husband, and it was an adjustment for both of them. 'I knew that it would be a journey for the both of us because he resorts to [acting like a] small child and I had to actually just get over it,' Debra says. 'It stretched our marriage vows big time because he was just so irritable.' His pain made it difficult for him to receive her help. 'He was very uncomfortable, very not a happy person,' she remembers, but she reminded herself 'he's on the other side of this.' And while she did focus on her gratitude for his health, she had to ask him to be considerate of her feelings while he healed. 'I had to tell him, 'Listen, I know you're unhappy right now and I know you're not comfortable, but you have to be nicer to me and you have to speak to me with some level of intimacy or be empathetic towards me because I'm the only one here.' Debra worked in daycares for 28 years," so to her, "diapers are no big thing,' she says. But catheters, sometimes with blood in them, was different. 'That was the worst,' she says. 'It was gross. This is above diaper changing. This was just my husband in pain. If I would touch around the area where the catheter was at, he would just explode." When it was removed after a few weeks, "he was just a better guy,' she says. His appetite returned — she made him omelettes and Jell-O —and he was able to start walking. And his positive attitude returned too. 'He's not over here worrying about the next step. That's why our marriage is so good, because he's such a positive man," Debra says. "I mean, I would've been on the floor with all this, but he just constantly reassured me that every step was getting better.' His previous weight loss helped his recovery, he says: "It gave me that endurance." He was much better within two or three months. Now he's a certified personal trainer. He teaches seniors chair exercise classes at their church. His wife makes everyone lunch. They also run the non-profit Chris founded, Boys 2 Men, together, and finally took the road trip Debra dreamed of in now advocating for all his friends to get their PSA levels checked and try to catch prostate cancer as early as possible. 'He showed a lot of other men, it's okay to talk about your cancer,' Debra says. 'A lot of men suffer in silence and they don't have to,' Chris says. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cleveland Browns 53-man roster projection: Post-minicamp prediction include close QB pick
BEREA — The Cleveland Browns concluded their mandatory minicamp on June 12. Other than four scheduled voluntary OTA days between June 16-19, there's nothing else on their calendar until training camp gets underway in late July. So, in other words, it is a perfect time to take a swing at projecting how the Browns' initial 53-man roster will look when it's unveiled by 4 p.m. Aug. 26. Advertisement Naturally, with the Browns having only done about three weeks' worth of on-field team activities, there's some — maybe even a lot of — guesswork going to be involved in some of the spots. That's especially true in the areas where the best way to evaluate players is once the full equipment is put on and the full-contact drills begin in camp. That's not going to happen for more than a month. Until training camp gets here, though, here's a guess at how the initial 53 will look for the Browns. Offense (26) Quarterbacks (3) Kenny Pickett Dillon Gabriel Shedeur Sanders Cleveland Browns quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, left, Dillon Gabriel, center, and Joe Flacco warm up during an practice at the Browns training facility May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. The next time a projection comes out, it may very well have Joe Flacco and not Pickett on this list. If this had been written on an even-numbered minute instead of an odd-numbered one, it could've been Flacco and not Pickett. Long story short, it feels very much like it's an either/or situation with the two experienced quarterbacks who are part of the four-man competition, and Pickett gets the initial nod because of two things. One is the fact the Browns traded to acquire him first, on the first day of the free-agency period, and the other is the number of reps he got in the two open OTAs and three minicamp practices. Of course, all of that goes out the window once training camp gets started, which is why it very well could end up being Flacco. The one thing that seems obvious, though, is that both rookies seem like safe bets to be on the roster at the end of the day. Advertisement Running backs (4) Jerome Ford Quinshon Judkins Dylan Sampson Pierre Strong Jr. There's not much to add. It's not really much of a competition to see who's at the top of this position group. Strong's contributions on special teams make him valuable. Tight ends (4) David Njoku Harold Fannin Jr. Blake Whiteheart Brendan Bates Coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees love to utilize tight ends in their offensive schemes. That's why it feels like four tight ends will end up on the roster, although another option could end up being a weekly game day elevation of a tight end off the practice squad if there's a squeeze at another position. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) and tight end David Njoku (85) share a moment during practice at minicamp June 10, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. Wide receivers (6) Jerry Jeudy Diontae Johnson DeAndre Carter Cedric Tillman Jamari Thrash Kaden Davis This is a group to watch once training camp actually gets underway — mostly because there are a lot of variables that could shuffle some of these names around. Jeudy is a definite, and Tillman and Thrash both look that way. Carter's spot is as much because of his work in the return game as anything. Johnson will have training camp to prove he was worth the one-year, vet-minimum, non-guaranteed deal he was given in April. Davis, meanwhile, has garnered rave reviews for his work in the offseason program and could be the surprise of the group. Obviously, Michael Woods II and David Bell will be in consideration if they can stay on the field. Advertisement Offensive line (9) Ethan Pocic (C) Joel Bitonio (G) Wyatt Teller (G) Jack Conklin (T) Dawand Jones (T) Teven Jenkins (G/T) Cornelius Lucas (T) Luke Wypler (C) Zak Zinter (G) The first eight are all but locks. Zinter feels like he's in a make-or-break season to show growth from the struggles he had during his rookie season. Javion Cohen is another option at guard. Defense (24) Defensive line (10) Myles Garrett (DE) Mason Graham (DT) Maliek Collins (DT) Joe Tyron-Shoyinka (DE) Shelby Harris (DT) Mike Hall Jr. (DT) Ogbo Okoronkwo (DE) Alex Wright (DE) Isaiah McGuire (DE) Julian Okwara (DE) Cleveland Browns defensive end Isaiah McGuire reacts during the second quarter against the Miami Dolphins on Dec. 29, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio. This group needs to get on the field with actual full-contact reps to really get a feel for the way they could fall. There's also the question about Hall's knee injury, which he has been rehabbing during the offseason program. That could limit some of his preseason reps, which could open the door for someone else, such as Sam Kamara, who has been a favorite of the defensive coaches over the last couple of years and could easily edge someone out of a spot. Okwara's special teams chops could make him extra valuable. Advertisement Linebackers (5) Jordan Hicks Mohamoud Diabate Devin Bush Jr. Carson Schwesinger Winston Reid Jerome Baker and Nathaniel Watson were very tough cuts on this version. Bush's legal issues in Pennsylvania could open up one spot. A decision to keep five or six linebackers also will be huge. Defensive backs (9) Denzel Ward (CB) Martin Emerson Jr. (CB) Greg Newsome II (CB) Grant Delpit (S) Ronnie Hickman (S) Damontae Kazee (S) Rayshawn Jenkins (S) Cameron Mitchell (CB) Nik Needham (CB/S) Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome (0) celebrates a interception with teammates during a game against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 2, 2024, in Denver, Colorado. Needham's addition gives the Browns the kind of versatile defensive back that allows for a bit of flexibility. He can play both safety and cornerback, which means they can keep him and maintain a balance between both spots. Tony Brown II and Myles Harden are two players who could find their way onto the roster with special teams work. Specialists (3) Dustin Hopkins (K) Corey Bojorquez (P) Rex Sunahara (LS) It's pretty much cut and dried here. Advertisement Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@ Read more about the Browns at Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns roster prediction: New projection for Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Non-QB topics to ponder a month from training camp
BEREA — There's roughly a month to go until the Browns get back on the field for the start of training camp. That's another month to ponder the questions that surround the team as it tries to climb back from the 3-14 disaster that was the 2024 season. That disaster has created plenty of questions for the Browns. Advertisement The obvious one is about the quarterback position. However, that question is so obvious it's not going to be addressed here. Instead, let's take a look at three questions that will hover over the Browns until they get into training camp. Tough talk, or are Browns truly committed to toughness? Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry, left, and coach Kevin Stefanski watch as wide receiver Gage Larvadain practices with the special teams during a practice at the team's training facility May 28, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. A running theme from both coaches and some of the Browns' most prominent veterans has centered around a root cause for the 2024 record. Distilled down to the simplest term, it is the team's toughness. Or, lack thereof. Essentially, if you listen to players like left guard Joel Bitonio, when the going got tough last season, a whole lot of players didn't respond well at all. That, in his own words, turned into a "snowball" that rolled over any hopes of a good season. Advertisement The talk during the offseason program was about a renewed dedication to getting tougher, both physically and mentally. They talked about tougher workouts and more accountability. Training camp will show whether that was just tough talk, or if there really is a commitment to change. One way will come in the intensity of the training camp itself, which has been lacking in recent Browns camps compared to other teams. More help on the way for Browns wide receiving corps? The only veteran addition made to the Browns wide receiving corps was DeAndre Carter, a player whose biggest role may come in the return game, and Diontae Johnson, who bounced around three different teams last year. The only help in terms of rookies added came from undrafted free agents or tryout players who managed to stick. Advertisement So the question remains about the depth after Jerry Jeudy, who's coming off a Pro Bowl, record-setting season. Are the Browns content with what they have right now and seeing who rises to the top during training camp, or will they still bring in someone else — like maybe Keenan Allen? There's also the third path, which calls for one of the recent wide receivers drafted by the team to make a big jump. That group most notably includes 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman and 2024 fifth-round pick Jamari Thrash. Whichever path it comes from, it has to come sooner rather than later. It doesn't matter who the quarterback ends up being if they don't have a reliable group of wide receivers to target. Would Browns make a deal to help fill one of their position gaps? Cleveland Browns cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) eyes down quarterback Dillon Gabriel (5) during practice at minicamp June 10, 2025, in Berea, Ohio. This is almost a secondary question to the previous one. However, it could have implications at other spots on the roster that need boosting as well. Advertisement The most obvious answer for a player the Browns could try to trade to reap another piece in return is cornerback Greg Newsome II. Of course, Newsome's been on the "Browns to watch potentially get traded" list for at least two seasons and remains here, so maybe it's time to move along. There are also a couple of older defensive linemen who could end up moving. Those decisions, though, wouldn't be so much about getting a player back as much as getting a player out of the way so a younger player can get more reps. This question is sort of an evergreen one. It could get answered even during this break, or not until the Browns see how the situation looks once they get going in the preseason. Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@ Read more about the Browns at Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns questions: Is the team tough enough? Will they add another WR?
