Cleveland Browns: Notes and Quotes from First Week of Training Camp

The Cleveland Browns held their first practice of their 2015 training camp on Thursday, and though it lasted just shy of two hours and they won't put the pads on until Saturday, there's still a lot of news to report.

Here are the need-to-know notes and quotes from the Browns' first week of training camp, including the latest developments at the quarterback position and updates on new Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor.

Running Backs in Rotation

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One of the biggest questions about the Browns this year is who will be the de facto starter at running back and how the touches will be divided between Terrance West, Isaiah Crowell and the rookie, Duke Johnson. The first day of training camp practice provided a few hints.

Fred Greetham of Scout.com reports that West had the first carry with the first-team offense, but that it won't necessarily be the case—head coach Mike Pettine noted that, "It will be mixed. You will see a healthy rotation. You will see all those guys taking reps with the ones. All those groups will get mixed." Greetham also observed that Crowell, West, Shaun Draughn and Luke Lundy all got touches with the first-team offense.

ClevelandBrowns.com's Kevin Jones noticed that Johnson was often put in motion and lined up at slot receiver and fullback in practices. Crowell had an early fumble and a drop, but he, "rebounded nicely, ripping off some quality runs against the defense."

Expect the running back rotation to constantly be changing this summer, which is reflective of how the Browns intend to use them in the regular season.

Buzz About Terrelle Pryor

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It was quarterback-turned-wide receiver Terrelle Pryor's first day in a Browns uniform, and according to head coach Mike Pettine, it suits him. Pettine said after Thursday's practice that, "He looks great in a uniform, I can tell you that. He is a big, explosive athlete. We all saw that he catches the ball."

But, as expected, Pryor has a way to go before he can be a true NFL wideout. Pettine continued, "He has a lot to learn. Getting off of press coverage, that will be a big thing once we get the pads on Saturday. I thought it was a solid first step for him."

Cornerback Joe Haden is already encouraged by what little he's seen of Pryor thus far, saying, "We ran the conditioning test yesterday, and this is the first time I got a chance to meet Pryor, and he's huge. ... Now, it's just seeing what his hands look like and how he comes out of his routes. I didn't go up against him today, but I can't wait to look at him and see what he does because he looks the part, for sure."

Pryor knows he has a lot of work to put in, saying to Fred Greetham of Scout.com that his plan is to be, "Asking a lot of questions, being humble and I feel if I keep focusing on that I think that gives me the best chance," adding, "I think I'm big and don’t think a lot of guys can run with me. I really don't."

Keeping an eye on Pryor's development will be a major storyline during Browns camp; for now, the signs are encouraging.

QB Josh McCown Looks Like Starter

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There have been no changes to the quarterback depth chart prior to the start of the Browns training camp, which means Josh McCown is firmly entrenched with the first team. And, in a non-padded practice, he looked good on Thursday.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto wrote, "McCown was poised in the pocket and in control of the offense," and, "looked like a guy who is in his 13th NFL season," who "also has the size of the typical AFC North quarterback."

Scout.com's Fred Greetham reported that McCown "looked efficient" and had a nice completion deep down the field to receiver Dwayne Bowe. But it was a light work day for McCown in the team's first training camp practice, with ClevelandBrowns.com's Kevin Jones noting that, "most of the play calls were underneath throws and short passes to the running backs."

We'll have a better feel for exactly how McCown looks at the helm of Cleveland's offense once the pads come on this weekend.

Johnny Manziel Update

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Head coach Mike Pettine did not go into too much detail about the performances of quarterbacks Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel after the first day of the Browns training camp practices, saying "I will reserve that judgement again until I watch the tape. I thought both those guys did some good things."

But the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Terry Pluto had more to say about Manziel on Thursday. He reported that Manziel had "at least two passes batted down" and took a "few" would-be sacks. He also saw Manziel miss a few throws to wide-open receivers, though his best pass of the day—a 30-yard throw to rookie receiver Vince Mayle—was dropped.

But even with Manziel's few hiccups, Pettine is happy about the quarterback position at this time, saying:

"

What I liked about it, regardless after the ball was snapped, is the command in the huddle and the knowledge of the offense and to be able to take a play and if a guy was lined up wrong and move him and just the way the plays are being called and the cadence. Sometimes that takes some time. We're further ahead this year than we were a year ago with that for all the quarterbacks.

"

At the very least, it's a sign that Manziel is making progress.

Alex Mack Is Back

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Before training camp began, there was some chatter that Browns center Alex Mack would be on a pitch count, at least for some portion of camp, in order to ease him back into the starting lineup after suffering a fractured leg last year. But, at least on Thursday, Mack took no plays off—he was the starting first-team center for the entire practice session.

Whether or not this will continue depends on "the communication with [Mack]. How does he feel? If he needs a day, if he needs some reps, if he needs to cut some time back. He knows his body better than anybody else. We will depend on him to let us know when he does need to scale it back," said head coach Mike Pettine, via the Browns' official website.

But the Browns did rotate players in and out of the line on Thursday, including Andrew McDonald and Ryan Seymour. Round 1 2015 draft pick Cameron Erving, meanwhile, worked with the second-team offense. Pettine, via Scout.com's Fred Greetham, said, "We feel the starting five from a year ago is a solid group. If Cam wants to break into that lineup, that's not going to be handed to him. He is going to have to earn it."

It is good news that Mack didn't need to take it easy in his first training camp practice back. But that could certainly change, as Pettine said. But there doesn't need to be any lingering worry that he won't be ready to play come Week 1. 

Injury Updates

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The Browns placed three players on the non-football injury list on Thursday, according to the Browns' official website. Linebacker Darius Eubanks (knee), wide receiver Marlon Moore (illness) and running back Glenn Winston (knee) were all given the designation; they can be activated to practice at any time they are cleared from their respective ailments.

In addition to these three players, cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (knee), cornerback Charles Gaines (hamstring) and tight end Randall Telfer (foot) did not practice on Thursday. Ekpre-Olomu and Telfer are on the physically unable to perform list at present, and it's possible that neither play in 2015, which would be both players' rookie seasons.

Defensive tackle Phil Taylor (knee) did not complete the Browns' conditioning test on Wednesday, but he did take the practice field on Thursday, with head coach Mike Pettine saying that Taylor, "will do extra conditioning with the strength and conditioning staff," and that "[h]e is still on very much a limited basis."

The good news, though, is that no Browns player suffered any injuries of consequence in the team's first practice of training camp.