Browns quick hits: Myles Garrett appreciates 'trust' shown in him while supporting family

BEREA − Family before football. For Myles Garrett, there was never a question about that.

Garrett spent four practices last week away from the Browns. That was in order to be with an ailing family member back in Texas.

“Yeah, I was out for a while visiting a family member and supporting them and supporting my family," Garrett said Tuesday. "So I just wanted to be around him and show him that he’s loved during this tough time and be present.”

Garrett was back for last Friday's joint practice with the Eagles. However, he didn't fully participate, as he left the field midway through it and went into the field house to work out on his own.

The All-Pro defensive end was appreciative of the space the organization gave him while he was tending to his family.

“It really means a lot," Garrett said. "It shows how much trust they have in me to go out there and be where I need to be within that time but also come back and do what I’m supposed to do to get back with the team and be on top of it when I get back.”

Coach Kevin Stefanski made it clear throughout Garrett's absence that it was all excused and that he had no firm deadline for Garrett to return. It's an approach that he has made clear stands for both stars and rookies.

“I do not know necessarily that it is my philosophy," Stefanski said of making sure players tend to personal matters. "I just think we are all human. All of us have things going on outside of these walls and in our personal lives. I just want to make sure that we are here to support our guys.”

Myles Garrett uncertain if he'll play against Chicago Bears

Garrett, as has been the case for most of the Browns' starters, has not played in either of their first two preseason games. There's an expectation that many, if not all, will play during Saturday's preseason finale against the Bears, which Stefanski has labeled a "dress rehearsal."

Whether that includes Garrett, though, remains to be seen.

“I’m on the unofficial depth chart for that third game," Garrett said. "So we’ll see if I end up playing or not. But I feel like I’m in a good spot all around and I’m happy to get a chance to get back out there – whenever it is.”

Isaiah Thomas becomes a 'Girl Dad'

Browns rookie defensive end Isaiah Thomas had more pressing things to do the past couple of days than worry about football. His girlfriend Kelbi gave birth to the couple's first child, Aubri, on Monday.

Thomas was present for his daughter's birth, just as he had said he would be earlier last week. Stefanski reiterated on Tuesday that he wanted his rookie to be present for such a momentous occasion.

Thomas, who had sat out most of last week due to a hand injury, was expected to return to the team in time for Wednesday's practice. Stefanski also indicated he would be able to practice as well.

The seventh-round pick from Oklahoma had an impressive preseason debut in Jacksonville with two sacks and three tackles for loss.

Denzel Ward, Jack Conklin getting work in team drills

Two key starters are beginning to work their way back into full-go participation in practice. Right tackle Jack Conklin started to get work in team drills late last week during the joint practices with the Eagles, and cornerback Denzel Ward picked up a few reps in those drills for the first time on Tuesday.

Conklin had been activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 2 as he returned from a patellar tendon tear suffered last November. He had been a participant since then in individual drills, but hadn't worked in full-team drills until last week.

Ward, who was activated from the PUP list on Aug. 15, had been limited to individual and 7-on-7 work mostly prior to Tuesday. He has been recovering from a foot injury sustained during June minicamp.

Homecoming for Hjalte Froholdt? Probably not.

Browns offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt has had quite the journey in his life. A native of Denmark, he spent a year at Warren Harding High School as an exchange student before going back to Denmark, only to then return to the United States to play a year at IMG Academy on Florida before playing collegiately at the University of Arkansas.

Froholdt's NFL career started as a 2019 fourth-round pick of the New England Patriots, with whom he played eight games in 2020 before being waived. He finished that season and the preseason of 2021 with the Houston Texans, before being waived and picked up by the Browns.

Froholdt played six games last season for the Browns. He's been working as a reserve center and right guard this preseason.

“He has an amazing story," Stefanski said. "I know this, his teammates really like him. He works extremely hard.”

Stefanski admitted he had never been to Froholdt's home country before, although "it is on my list.” The natural follow-up was to ask, jokingly, if there was a way to schedule joint practices next year in Denmark.

“Let’s go – joint practices in Denmark," Stefanski said with a laugh.

Greg Newsome II closing in on return to practice

Another key Browns starter's return to the field may be on the horizon. Cornerback Greg Newsome II has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury on Aug. 9.

On Tuesday, Stefanski was asked if Newsome was expected to be back on the field and said he was "getting close.”

Offensive tackle Chris Hubbard, Thomas and receiver Daylen Baldwin were the lone Browns not present for Tuesday's practice. Newsome, receiver Michael Woods II, Jerome Ford, Dakota Allen, Chase Winovich, Jadeveon Clowney and Perrion Winfrey were all present, but did not practice for various reasons.

Corey Bojorquez's big leg provides the final edge in punting battle

The Browns' punting competition was ended when Joseph Charlton was among five they waived on Monday to get the roster to the 80-man limit. That means the job will belong to Corey Bojorquez, who they had signed in the offseason from the Green Bay Packers.

Bojorquez has punted three times during the two preseason games, averaging 54.3 yards per punt. In his first four years − three with the Buffalo Bills and last year with the Packers − he averaged 45.4 yards on 218 punts.

During Tuesday's practice, Bojorquez showcased the leg on multiple punts. That included a 65-yarder that even elicited a reaction from some teammates just watching from the sideline.

“You want your punter to be a weapon," Stefanski said. "Corey is somebody who we were excited about when we went out and got him to be able to use him in some plus-50 situations, especially pin a defense down. We almost had an opportunity to do that in the last game.”

Deshaun Watson's practice reps to begin to diminish

At 4 p.m. next Tuesday, Deshaun Watson's 11-game suspension for his personal conduct policy violations will get started. He will not be able to return to the building until Oct. 10, and even then, he will only be able to go through meetings.

That means this week's practices will be the final time Watson can actually do on-field work with the Browns until he's reinstated from suspension on Nov. 14. Stefanski said there's still some work the quarterback can get done before his suspension begins.

“He will still take reps," Stefanski said. "It may be more in show-team type looks, going against our defense in carded-type periods. Everything that Deshaun does out here on the practice field when it comes to individual, show-team reps, post-practice work and off to the side work, I think it all adds up.”

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett appreciates 'trust' Browns showed him while with family