Browns

Brown HC Todd Monken challenged QB Deshaun Watson, saying the team needed better quarterback play.

“Deshaun (Watson), he knows he can play better,” Monken said, via Browns Wire. “We can play better around him. But he’s just got something in him. The ability to make a play when needed.”

Browns 

The Browns have eight starters from their last 10 draft picks taken within the first three rounds. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi and Cameron Wolfe cite a veteran NFL executive who praised GM Andrew Berry, saying the organization has stuck to the general manager’s plan. 

“When you talk to Andrew Berry, it’s almost like talking to a computer,” the executive said. “He’s structured. He’s detailed and programmed. He does a great job articulating that with ownership. He’s responded with strong drafts. The challenging part is it takes a stomach to stick with it. Sometimes, the head coach, general manager or both don’t last through that pain. But you must give credit to that whole organization for standing strong through Berry’s plan, and you see it paying off.”

Cleveland made the big call to trade Myles Garrett to the Rams over the offseason. Berry explained they received too much value to pass up. 

“You think about it like we get three or four good players and $20-30 million saved from trading Myles. Now, you’re giving up a great player in Myles. We think that’s worth it,” Berry said. “You never go into a season expecting to have as big of an impact of rookies that we did last year. That’s unusual. We’d never expect to duplicate that immediate production with this group. But we’re happy and optimistic about the guys we have.”

An anonymous NFC general manager was impressed by their selection of second-round WR Denzel Boston, calling him the top receiver on their draft board. 

“Boston was a great pick. We loved Boston; he was our No.1 WR in the draft,” the general manager said. “The size, physicality. People were just scared of the speed. That was a great pick. They’ve done well using him to his strengths.”

Ravens

Ravens K Tyler Loop has missed three field goals this season, including a 49-yard attempt in their 13-10 loss to the Browns in Week 6. Baltimore HC Jesse Minter said Loop needs to convert field goals in critical second-half situations. 

“There’s kicks that take a game from a two-score game to a three-score game … or take that from a one-score game to a two-score game,” Minter said, via Clifton Brown of the team’s site. “Those are critical misses. There is a confidence level for how [Loop] prepares and how he practices and how he operates and how he strikes the ball. But at the same time, that position itself is completely results-driven. So, we’ll continue to work with him and continue to try to put him in position, but we need to make second-half kicks. You could argue that second-half missed field goals are no different than turning the ball over in those situations.”

• Jamison Hensley noted that Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) did not participate in Wednesday’s media-open portion of practice, while QBs Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano took the reps. 
• Minter said Jackson worked with the team on Wednesday and was with his teammates, via Jeff Zrebiec.