Browns quick hits: Amari Cooper taking aim at clearing receiving 'milestone'

BEREA − Amari Cooper has posted five 1,000-yard receiving seasons in his career. The Browns receiver may be just a couple of catches on Saturday away from making that six.

Whether it happens against the New Orleans Saints on Saturday, or the following week, it's an accomplishment that Cooper believes isn't insignificant.

"Yeah, for sure," Cooper said Wednesday. "It's a milestone that people respect. It's the milestone that people start to view a receiver like, 'Yeah, he had a good season,' so yeah it is."

Cooper heads into Saturday's game against the Saints with 932 yards on 67 catches. It's already the best of all of his non-1,000-yard seasons, the previous coming a year ago in Dallas when he had 865 yards on 68 catches.

The last time Cooper had a 1,000-yard season was with the Cowboys in 2020. That season, he had 1,114 yards on 92 catches.

The quarterback for the majority of that season was Andy Dalton, who played in 11 games and started nine due to an injury to Dak Prescott. Dalton will be the starting quarterback for New Orleans on Saturday.

"Andy is a cool dude, man," Cooper said. "We weren't very good that year. I think it was the year Dak got hurt, Andy came in, he started a lot of games. Yeah, I think he did well."

Cooper has once again had to adjust to a new quarterback midseason. This time, though, the quarterback taking over, Deshaun Watson, is the one who's the longterm answer at the position.

The Browns acquired Cooper on March 16 from the Cowboys. Two days later, they acquired Watson from the other Texas team, the Houston Texans.

They hope the final six games, with Watson back from his 11-game suspension, are a chance for the two former Pro Bowlers to get on the same page.

"I mean, it's a blessing to be able to have Amari and the things that he can do and the things that he's seen and just be able to be that big brother for me," Watson said, "because he's older than me, so I have an opportunity to learn from him and what other quarterbacks he played with was thinking and what he thinks on certain coverages versus certain (defensive backs). And then also for him to be able to talk with the younger receivers and show them the way to be a professional and how to prep for each one of the games. It's awesome to see."

Cooper's expectations of doing well start with the plateau he's looking to clear on Saturday. He posted five 1,000-yard seasons in his first six years in the league between 2015-20, with the only time he didn't hit that mark coming when he only played 14 games in 2017.

The former No. 4 overall pick of the Raiders in the 2015 draft out of the University of Alabama, though, is aiming even higher than just 1,000 yards. His career high is 1,189, which he obtained in his last Pro Bowl season with Dallas in 2019.

"I mean, it's cool," Cooper said. "I mean it's something that I expect to do every year barring injury or things like that. Really just trying to reach that next level, 1,500-yard seasons, things like that."

Cooper hasn't missed a game this season, but that doesn't mean he isn't playing through pain. He suffered a core muscle injury late in the week leading into the Dec. 11 game at Cincinnati, but still managed to play.

There's the chance the injury could require offseason surgery. Cooper, though, reiterated Wednesday that he's not ready to commit to anything yet.

Nick Chubb, Myles Garrett, Jadeveon Clowney remain absent

The Browns had four key starters once again out of practice due to injuries on Wednesday. Running back Nick Chubb (foot), safety John Johnson III (thigh), defensive end Myles Garrett (illness) and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (concussion) were all not on the field for the second consecutive day.

Their exact status for Saturday remains up in the air, although no one is committing one way or the other. Defensive coordinator Joe Woods did sound hopeful Wednesday that Johnson and Garrett would be able to play.

Cooper and right tackle Jack Conklin both worked off to the side with trainers during the open portion of practice.

Ex-Buckeyes Chris Olave, Pete Werner, ex-Browns receiver Jarvis Landry don't practice for Saints

Former Ohio State receiver Chris Olave and ex-Buckeyes linebacker Pete Werner each didn't practice for the Saints on Wednesday. Both are battling hamstring issues.

Former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry also didn't practice on Wednesday with an ankle injury. Running back Dwayne Washington also didn't practice due to illness.

Chicago native Greg Newsome II not a fan of the cold

Cornerback Greg Newsome II grew up in Chicago. He played collegiately at Northwestern University, just outside of his hometown.

That doesn't mean the Windy City native has to be a fan of the cold. In fact, it's quite the opposite.

"I don't think you ever can necessarily prepare for that," Newsome said. "It's definitely going to be cold but, I mean, I said it earlier, I just feel like it's like a decision you gotta make. It's like are you going to let it affect you or are you not? That's the only decision. Everyone loves to say you went to Northwestern, you can't prepare for cold. I'm cold, too. But it's just the mindset that you go into the game with."

The forecast for Saturday is calling for high temperatures around 10 degrees, with wind chills below zero. It would be the coldest game-time temperature of Newsome's two-year pro career.

His teammate, tight end David Njoku, has already vowed to continue his tradition of going out for early warmups shirtless. Will Newsome join him?

"No, I ain't going to do that," Newsome said.

Cade York getting more work kicking in his home stadium

From the moment Cade York was taken in the fourth round of April's draft, talk centered around him kicking in the conditions of his home stadium. Turns out, the talk was valid, as the rookie has had more than his share of struggles kicking in Cleveland.

Both of York's missed points-after kicks have occurred at home, although none since a missed PAT in Week 3 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even more noticeable is his home/road splits on field goals, as he's 9 of 15 at home and 13 of 15 on the road.

Last Saturday against Baltimore was the second time in seven regular-season home games York has missed two field goals. That's once again led to questions about whether or not he needs more work in the stadium during the week leading up to the game.

“We have been down twice in the last week," special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said. "Since probably the preseason, we did. We were supposed to go and then somebody – I don’t know who it was, whoever tore up the field – we were supposed to go down that day, but they wouldn’t let us go down because they were fixing up the field. That was another time we had planned on going down there. We were waiting on later in the year as it got windier and colder.”

The end that seems to trouble York the most is the west end of the stadium. Of his six missed field goals at home, four have come to that end of the stadium.

Priefer said the irony of that is that the opposite end of the stadium, the Dawg Pound end, is typically the harder end into which to kick.

“Usually, the expectation is to make more on the other end going towards our locker room because I don’t want to say it is easier but it is a higher percentage of making kicks in that end," Priefer said. "That would be the focus going forward. He is really locked in in the Dawg Pound end and will be just as locked in on the other end, as well.”

Joe Woods appreciates vote of confidence from Myles Garrett

There's been a lot of criticism directed at Woods over the last two seasons. Some of it has even come from his star edge rusher, Garrett.

However, last week, Garrett offered up a show of support for his embattled coordinator.

"I only hear that chatter when y'all tell it to me," Garrett said last Thursday. "I don't go out and look for it and then it usually doesn't find my phone. So, no, I don't get much of a commentary here for fire Joe Woods or new DC, all that doesn't mean anything to me. We are what we are. He's our DC, and at the end of the day we're on the field executing his calls, whether it's a perfect call or not. I don't believe in perfect calls. We have to go out there and execute whatever he calls and make him right.

"Could there be better calls for situations? Of course. But he's not perfect, neither are we. So we have to be able to go out there and make the most out of it and perform at a high level."

On Wednesday, Woods was asked about Garrett's comments.

“It means a lot," Woods said. "He is definitely the leader of our defense. I really had no idea honestly that happened. We always just try to put our playmakers and put guys on defense in position to have success. I felt like we have done that better lately, but definitely hear him say that makes me feel confident in what we are doing.”

Browns defense talking more about takeaways

Garrett said after the Browns lost to Buffalo on Nov. 20 that he felt the defense wasn't making takeaways as much of an emphasis in practice. At the time, they had created just eight takeaways all season and were on their way to going the entire month of November — three games — without one.

Things have certainly changed in December. The win over the Ravens was the second multi-takeaway game in three games for the Browns, who had seven takeaways in that span.

Woods acknowledged there has been more talk about them during defensive meetings.

“I feel like we have been consistent, but I have definitely talked about it more," Woods said. "I always do a presentation every meeting, and we always talk about our rip attempts or opportunities we had in practice. I want to make it feel game-like to them. I think the more confidence they play with, the better technique you play with and the rush and coverages working together, that is when the takeaways come. Like I said, we have gotten some the last couple of weeks.”

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Amari Cooper taking aim at clearing 1,000-yard receiving 'milestone'