Browns rookie Isaiah Thomas motivated with baby girl on the way

Aug. 17—Isaiah Thomas had a big night in his first game with the Browns, and if everything stays on schedule, he will have an even more momentous night (or maybe day) sometime between the game with the Eagles on Aug. 21 and the one with the Bears on Aug. 27.

Thomas, the defensive end from Oklahoma selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft, registered two sacks totaling 15 yards and made another tackle behind the line of scrimmage on a running play Aug. 12 in the preseason opener in Jacksonville. Thomas is currently battling a hand injury that will sideline a couple days, Coach Kevin Stefanski said.

Defensive line coach Chris Kiffin might have fired Thomas up on the sideline with a quick pep talk before sending him onto the field. Maybe it was a last-second piece of advice from Myles Garrett that got Thomas going. Whatever he heard from the Browns, Thomas was already motivated to put on a show so he could earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

#Browns rookie defensive end Isaiah Thomas talks about his two sacks Friday night in the preseason opener. pic.twitter.com/XW69LEJQz2

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) August 14, 2022

"I find other things to motivate me," Thomas said before practice Aug. 14. "I have a daughter on the way, due in about 10 days or so. That was the main thing I was focusing on and one of the big reasons I do this for, to prove myself right in a sense to do it for my family back home. I got something to prove, and I'll go out there every play with that mentality before I take that next snap."

Thomas is 6-foot-5, 266 pounds and strong enough to move bigger offensive linemen out of the way, but any father present for the birth of his daughter knows Thomas is going to melt into a puddle when little Aubri enters the world. Thomas has made arrangements to leave the Browns temporarily, with the team's approval, as the due date draws closer so he can return to Tulsa to be with his girlfriend, Kelbi, for the momentous occasion.

#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski likes the potential of rookie defensive end Isaiah Thomas. pic.twitter.com/9x9j4pPP2x

— Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) August 14, 2022

"It's kind of hard being away from them, but I know it's for the greater good of my future and for their future, so I'm so optimistic on things," Thomas said. "I'm looking at the bright side of the picture."

Neither Garrett nor Jadeveon Clowney played against the Jaguars. Rookie Alex Wright, a third-round pick, and fifth-year veteran Isaac Rochell, in his first year with the Browns, started at defensive end. Thomas and Chase Winovich followed Wright and Rochell in the defensive end rotation.

"He's a really good kid," Stefanski said. "When we were doing our research this draft process, he's a program guy. He's been great in that area — great in the building, does what he's supposed to do.

"He has really good size, so he has big potential for us. He had a couple sacks the other night, showing his technique, showing his energy, his relentless pursuit — those types of things."

Thomas is named after NBA Hall of Fame player Isiah Thomas.

The Browns' Isaiah Thomas said his father wanted him to play basketball. Sure enough, Thomas helped the Memorial High School basketball team in Tulsa, Oklahoma, win two state championships. But he had to break the news to his dad that his heart was in football.

"My dad's favorite player was Isiah Thomas, and my mom loved the name Isaiah because it was in the Bible and she loves what it represents," Thomas said. "Never really was a debate on what I wanted to do. I knew football was the sport for me because graduating high school, I was 6-foot-5, the same height I am now.

"I was like well, I played the post. I'm not going to play the post in the NBA. I'd be guarding (Hawks star guard) Trae Young out there. So I was like football is going to be the better route. It panned out to everything I wanted it to be."

So far, so good.