'I wish I could be out there more': Browns' Denzel Ward back, but itching to get more

BEREA − Denzel Ward isn't all the way back on the field full time. The fact he can at least see that coming up soon is good enough for him.

The Browns Pro Bowl cornerback made his first practice appearance of training camp on Monday, the same day he was activated off of the physically unable to perform list with a foot injury from mid-June. He participated in individual drills, but was on the sideline for group or team drills.

As Ward went into his second day of practice, he did so happy to have the first one down. But he wasn't going to press the issue in terms of rushing back into full practice participation.

"I think just taking it a day at a time and seeing," Ward said of the plan for him prior to Tuesday's practice. "So I may. Just focusing on today, see how I feel today. I'm going to be in individual again and see if I can get some reps out there."

It turned out that Tuesday wasn't quite the day for Ward to get fully back into the groove. He once again did his individual work, but when it came time for anything beyond that, he spent his time fidgeting on the sidelines, helmet in hand.

The balancing act for Ward is simple. There's obviously a desire to be able to get back on the field as soon as possible after missing more than two weeks of camp.

That said, there's also the desire Ward has to build on what was arguably the best season of his five-year NFL career. He earned his second Pro Bowl appearance when he played in a career-high 15 games, with an interception − that he returned 99 yards for a touchdown − plus 10 passes defended and 43 tackles.

"I mean, I always need that preparation," Ward said. "I wish I could be out there more to get those reps on the field. But I mean, I'm still taking my mental reps and watching those guys practice and still going through the calls and everything. So, yeah, I didn't get the on-field reps that I'd like, but I'll still be good once I get back and going."

His performance a year ago, on top of the previous three years, helped Ward earn a five-year, $100.5 million contract extension. The $44.5 million in guaranteed money set a record for a cornerback, and the $20.1 million yearly average was only recently surpassed by Jaire Alexander's new deal with the Green Bay Packers.

There was also an individual honor for Ward on Monday. He appeared at No. 87 in the NFL Network's Top-100 Players list, which was released on Monday.

"I think it was great respect to be in the top 100," Ward said. "I did feel like I was a little low. Any guy that I locked up this past season, just dash my name next to theirs."

All of that momentum almost was derailed by a moment upon which Ward, to this day, can't quite figure out. On the final day of minicamp on June 16, he was going through a random drill at First Energy Stadium when he injured his left foot.

Ward spent several minutes on a bench with a trainer before walking off the field. He was in a walking boot a week later when he appeared at a youth camp at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.

Two months after the injury occurred, Ward doesn't know the exact reason for the injury. He isn't letting it linger with him mentally, either.

"Not too worried," Ward said. "I'm usually pretty good. Usually I'm out a couple of weeks, maybe. I wasn't too worried about it. Just get treatment on it and get back."

Ward's return almost coincides with the loss of the Browns' other starting cornerback, Greg Newsome II. Newsome has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during practice on Aug. 9.

That means the Browns have yet to conduct a preseason practice with their projected secondary intact. Yet, how it looks in mid-August isn't quite the same as how it looks on Sept. 11, when they open the regular season at the Carolina Panthers.

“That’s the name of the game in this league, honestly," safety John Johnson III said Monday. "Make it to the race is my mindset. As long as Week 1 they’re ready to go with enough mileage under their legs, I think we’ll be good.”

What the absence of the two starting corners has done is open the door for those below them on the depth chart. That's been especially true of rookie third-round pick Martin Emerson Jr. and three-year pro A.J. Green.

Those two, in particular, have grabbed the opportunity and run with it so far. Green has posted a solid camp from start to finish, and Emerson has been one of the Browns' most impressive rookies.

Emerson's also a rookie who's $400 richer, thanks to Ward. In last Friday's preseason opener, Emerson came up with an interception during which he ripped the ball out of the receiver's hands and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown.

Herb Miller, another cornerback, also came down with an interception late in the fourth quarter. He, too, left Jacksonville $400 richer.

"I told all those guys that if they get an interception, I'd give them $400," Ward said. "Herb, he ended up getting an interception as well. So I have to take care of those guys."

Now, Ward's ready to take care of his guys in a different way. By being back on the field with them in practice and, eventually, in the games as well.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Denzel Ward itching to do more now that he's back at practice