BEREA, Ohio — *EDITOR'S NOTE: You can watch Jim Donovan's full commentary in the player at the bottom of this story.
Day one of Browns training camp is all wrapped up in Berea.
The team got rained on today. Actually, they didn't get rained on; they took their practice indoors, a smart move as a downpour hit just after 2 o'clock when they were expected to take the field.
It was a light day, scheduled to be that way in the first place. The Browns are going to amp up training camp as things go along: A little bit more tomorrow, a little bit more on Friday, and the pads go on Saturday, when you — Browns fans — will be allowed in for the first open public practice.
Back to the big story of what's going on, and an update on Deshaun Watson and his case with the NFL: not really too much to tell you. Once again, we sit in a position where there is no decision being handed down, and so the Browns go on business (sort of) as usual with Watson taking first-team reps and preparing to be the quarterback, presumably on Opening Day.
Now, that may be far-fetched when the decision finally comes. But at least for right now, Kevin Stefanski is saying Deshaun Watson needs to get ready, needs to be prepared, and needs to get fully comfortable in the offense. This is time time to do that, and that's exactly what they're doing.
In the wings awaits Jacoby Brissett. Stefanski confirmed today that the Browns do have "a plan" ready to put in place if Watson is suspended for whatever amount of games he would miss this year. Brissett was declared as the next man up, as the coach says. He would be the starting quarterback.
After that, who knows? Would it be Josh Rosen as the backup? Would it be Josh Dobbs? We'll have to wait and see, but Brissett is ready, and they are fully confident he can do the job.
After all, he knows the drill: He did this in New England when he stepped in for a suspended Tom Brady, he did it a couple of times in Indianapolis when Andrew Luck was hurt and then retired, and he did it last year in Miami when Tua Tagovailoa ended up injured. He gets it, and he will be ready to go, and the Browns believe the offense will be fine.
They also are very confident that their defense can carry them through. That defense that played so well at the end of last year is loaded and ready to go, and they feel they've added some key pieces, too. Most of all, the big smile came on everyone's face when Jadeveon Clowney decided to come back and join Myles Garrett on that defensive line to give them that A and B pass rush they need so much of to compete and try and win this division.
On the injury front, as least at the start of camp, Denzel Ward is a non-participant on the PUP list because of a foot issue. He's in a walking boot, but they do expect him to be out on the practice field, probably a week or two in. Definitely, they are confident he'll be ready to go by the start of the season in Carolina on Sept. 11.
Jack Conklin will be a big story. The starting right tackle, who was out because of patella tendon surgery at the end of last year, has really come along. In fact, Stefanski says as far as Conklin is concerned, he basically "lived" here during the offseason rehabbing and trying to get that leg ready to go, and he's way ahead of schedule.
They also feel he'll be ready for the start of the season, and that is very, very important. That Browns offensive line, when it is intact, is certainly one of the best (if not the best) in the NFL.
The rest of the injury front is good so far, and the Browns get ready for Day No. 2 of training camp coming up on Thursday afternoon. And again, they await the NFL's decision on Deshaun Watson.
I can't tell you if no news is good news or it's bad news, and I think they feel the same way.