The Browns had two of their backup tight ends go down during Saturday’s 27-12 loss to the Vikings in the second preseason game, but only one of them will miss some time.
Kevin Stefanski said tight end/fullback Giovanni Ricci, who played 15 snaps for 23%, will miss a few week with a knee injury suffered during the game.
On the other hand, tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden, who played 33 snaps for 52%, got dinged late in the game, but is fine. Ricci caught all four of his targets for 32 yards, including a long of 17 yards. Mitchell-Paden caught all four of his targets for 59 yards, with a long of 30. The two are on the back end of the roster, along with Treyton Welch, while David Njoku and Jordan Akins are No. 1 and No. 2.
“Zaire gets better every single day,” Stefanski said. “He’s a young man that works extremely hard at his craft. In early, out late, constantly catching extra balls, getting extra work in the weight room, whatever it may be, just works hard at his craft. So a young player continuing to get better.”
He noted that other players on the roster can fulfill Ricci’s dual role.
“There are candidates, definitely,” Stefanski said. “You have fullbacks that can line up at tight end, you have tight ends that can line up fullback. So there’s a little bit of that, and we’ll work through all those things over the next few weeks.”
Shifting to regular season schedule
Stefanski said the Browns will transition to more of a regular season schedule this week to start gearing up for the opener on Sept. 8 against the Cowboys.
They’ll practice Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon in the last two sessions open to fans, and then fly to Seattle on Thursday for their game there Saturday at 10 p.m.
“There will be plenty of things that wouldn’t be exactly like a regular season week,” Stefanski said. “We’ll still do some competitive Browns versus Browns periods out there at practice, but going to try to get the coaches, players, staff used to the rhythm of a regular season work week.”
Linebackers still on the mend
Linebackers Jordan Hicks (undisclosed injury) and Tony Fields II (lower leg) probably won’t play in Seattle, but are making good progress, Stefanski said. Fields suffered the injury July 31 at The Greenbrier, and Hicks got hurt on Aug. 4.
It’s given backup linebacker such as Mohamoud Diabate and Devin Bush a chance to shine, with Diabate calling the defensive signals against the Vikings.
“Mohamoud has had some really, really good moments in these games,” Stefanski said. “Not perfect, things that I know he can do better. I know that coach Tarv (Jason Tarver) will work very hard with him to get him better, but he’s doing a nice job calling the defense, making plays, playing with great effort. And similarly, Devin, you know, new system for him, but to come in and kind of learn some different techniques and those type of things, I think he’s had some good moments in these games as well.”
Maurice Hurst II should be good to go
Browns defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II was one of several players who left Thursday’s joint practice with the Vikings with an injury, but he should be back in action soon after tweaking a hamstring.