Cleveland Browns Training Camp: Week 2 Stock Report

The Cleveland Browns are in the second full week of their 2015 training camp and are preparing for their first preseason game of the year, which is scheduled for Thursday night against Washington.

This means that practices are going to be even more grueling, and the contenders and pretenders vying for spots on the Browns' 53-man roster will begin separating themselves. Here are the Browns players whose stocks are rising and falling with nearly two weeks of training camp in the books.

Stock Up: LT Joe Thomas

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

How can an eight-time Pro Bowl left tackle who has never missed a game in eight years possibly see his stock rise during a routine training camp? When it's Joe Thomas getting rolled up on by massive nose tackle Danny Shelton and not suffering any damage.

And beyond that, when Thomas was asked about the situation after Tuesday's training camp practice, Thomas revealed (via Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram) that he's had three torn MCLs and two high-ankle sprains during his Browns tenure and has played through them all.

That Thomas could do such a thing without any decline in his playing ability shows just how special he really is. In fact, head coach Mike Pettine said it's possible Thomas could play some snaps on Thursday. Thomas is human, to be sure, but he has managed to do some superhuman things during his NFL career.

Stock Down: TE Rob Housler

David Richard/Associated Press

The Browns released their first unofficial depth chart of the preseason on Sunday, and though "unofficial" means "nowhere near set in stone," one interesting thing popped out: Tight end Rob Housler is listed as the No. 3 tight end, behind Gary Barnidge and Jim Dray.

Housler hasn't spent much time working with the first-team offense so far in training camp and was spotted primarily with the twos and threes during last week's Orange & Brown Scrimmage.

That's not how most assumed his summer would go after the Browns signed him this spring. And it's especially surprising since head coach Mike Pettine described Housler as "the ideal F" tight end—a tight end who is "more of a move type, off the ball, more of a wing. You can flex him out some."

Housler was signed to be a starter. He was supposed to replace Jordan Cameron. Now, he's No. 3 on the depth chart and will have to claw his way up. That doesn't mean his roster spot is in jeopardy—it's fully expected that he, along with Barnidge and Dray, will make the 53-man roster. But it does mean he could see far less playing time than he initially expected once the season begins.

Stock Up: OLB Scott Solomon

David Richard/Associated Press

Outside linebacker Scott Solomon's arrow continues to point upward. First, he stole early down pass-rushing reps away from Barkevious Mingo. And now, with Mingo on the mend from a knee procedure, Solomon has begun to show his versatility.

ClevelandBrowns.com's Andrew Gribble wrote, "On Monday, [Solomon] was everywhere during the team's inside running drill." His performance has shown that he's not just a one-trick pass-rushing pony. Fellow outside linebacker Paul Kruger is impressed with Solomon, saying, "He's on track for a lot of success. The guy only has one speed and it's frustrating for the offense."

Currently, the Browns have Solomon listed as a starting outside linebacker alongside Kruger. That's partly because Mingo is currently shelved, but it's also a reward for the hard work he's put in and how that has translated to the practice field. The longer Mingo sits, the better Solomon gets. That's good news for Solomon, and not so much for Mingo.

Stock Down: RB Glenn Winston

David Richard/Associated Press

Browns running back Glenn Winston hasn't participated in training camp yet, as he's been sidelined with a knee injury. And the longer he sits, the longer the odds are that he can stick on the roster come September. It also doesn't help that his position coach, Wilbert Montgomery, is rapidly losing patience with all of the Browns' injured running backs.

Along with Winston, Terrance West, Duke Johnson and Shaun Draughn have all dealt with or are currently dealing with injuries that have kept them off the field. And Montgomery is unhappy. He said on Sunday (via ESPN's Pat McManamon):

"

The disappointing thing was that all those guys approaching here and not being in tip-top shape. I think that was a total setback, and now they are climbing back uphill and that's why they're taking a back seat right now. If you're going to be a running back, your job is to get hit and your job is being able to bounce back from injuries really quickly because it's most like playing a game every week. Each day you've got to be healthy and ready to go and you've got to play injured, you've got to play sore and you've got to play banged up. And if you can't play with those things there, you really can't play.

"

Considering comments like that are floating around while Winston is sidelined with a knee injury with no clear timetable for recovery, his chances of making an impact for the Browns this year are not looking good.

Stock Up: DL Dylan Wynn

Uncredited/Associated Press

Undrafted rookie defensive lineman Dylan Wynn may be listed as a fourth-string defensive end on the Browns' current depth chart, but his stock looks to be on the rise—along with his spot on said depth chart.

First, there was his performance in last Friday's Orange & Brown Scrimmage. Wynn sacked backup quarterback Thaddeus Lewis twice in a row and then pressured him a third time. He followed that up with a good day of practice on Monday, which included him taking first-team reps.

ClevelandBrowns.com's Kevin Jones wrote, "The terms high-motor and intensity are as cliche as it gets in football—but they are traits Wynn has brought to the defensive line. Cracking the first team at possibly the most crowded position on the roster is a big moment in training camp for Wynn. He's starting to get noticed."

Jones also noted that Wynn has been used at times as a blocking fullback during goal-line drills and noted that head coach Mike Pettine "said he likes to keep a crossover player who could help out the offense in short yardage situations." Wynn may just be a dark horse to make the 53-man roster if he keeps this up.