2026 Cleveland Browns training camp: Latest intel, updates

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          • Daniel OyefusiAug 1, 2026, 04:50 PM ET
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              Daniel Oyefusi covers the Cleveland Browns for ESPN. Prior to ESPN, he covered the Miami Dolphins for the Miami Herald, as well as the Baltimore Ravens for The Baltimore Sun.
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          The 2026 NFL training camps have kicked off around the league, and our team reporters are on the ground each day following all the action. The Cleveland Browns camp is taking place at the CrossCountry Mortgage Campus and Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi has the latest intel on standouts, highlights, position battles, depth chart movement, cut decisions and of course the quarterback room.

          What follows is everything we are seeing and hearing at Browns camp. We will update this file often. The biggest question for Cleveland remains who will be the starting QB? Who are the breakout players to watch, especially for fantasy football? And which players on the roster bubble could make the final 53?

          Dive in to all the updates and be sure to check back for more information until the first full week of the preseason begins Aug. 13.

          Camp updates for all 32 NFL teams

          Latest news from Browns camp

          Saturday, Aug. 1

          It was an opportunistic afternoon for the Browns' defense, which intercepted five passes on the fourth day of practice.

          Three of those picks were thrown by Deshaun Watson, who now has six interceptions in four practices, with Christopher Edmonds getting two and safety Donovan McMillon getting another. Rookie safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren made a strong play on the first interception, dislodging a ball from tight end Jack Stoll that Edmonds caught off the ricochet.

          Shedeur Sanders was also intercepted for the first time in training camp, as he underthrew a deep pass to wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and was picked off by cornerback D'Angelo Ross.

          Dillon Gabriel was also intercepted by linebacker Reid Carrico in a red zone drill.

          The three quarterbacks, though, had success in the red zone drills, with each throwing multiple short touchdown passes.

          "It's multiple -- they're doing all types of different stuff, showing us different things," Watson said of Cleveland's defense before practice. "It's really good, especially for the quarterbacks, running backs and O-line, just protectionwise. They're showing us different things every time, and each group is getting different looks."

          More observations from the day:

          Friday, July 31

          Browns rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston was one of the standouts from the spring offseason workout program and has continued stacking strong performances in training camp. He had one of the catches of camp, leaping over a defensive back along the sideline to bring in a pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders in 7-on-7s.

          The No. 39 pick out of Washington in the 2026 draft, Boston gives Cleveland a size dimension at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds that the offense lacked in the 2025 season. He has been working with the second-team offense when the Browns break into two fields to maximize reps but is expected to have a big role as a rookie.

          More observations from the day:

          • Quarterback Deshaun Watson took first-team reps Friday and threw his third interception in as many practices when he was picked off by linebacker Quincy Williams over the middle of the field.

          • Browns owner Jimmy Haslam said that despite Cleveland's projected 5.5-win total, he expects the team to improve from its 5-12 season in 2025. "I'll take the over," Haslam said.

          • Running backs coach Duce Staley said running back Quinshon Judkins "worked his ass off" to return from a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula that ended his season in Week 16. "The sky is the limit ... I think that Q can play all three downs," Staley said.

          • Linebacker Carson Schwesinger, the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2025, said new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg connected him with Pro Football Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly, whom Schwesinger grew up idolizing. "He was great, said whatever I needed, any questions ... it's great to have that resource," Schwesinger said.

          • Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. missed practice because of personal reasons. Offensive lineman Teven Jenkins also missed practice, while defensive tackle Kalia Davis was sidelined for a second consecutive day. Rookie tight end Joe Royer (personal) remained out.

          • Nickel corner Myles Harden left practice early with a trainer.

          Thursday, July 30

          Shedeur Sanders took the first-team reps on the second day of training camp, alternating with Deshaun Watson in Cleveland's quarterback competition. Sanders had a notable guest in attendance, as his father (and coach at Colorado and formerly Jackson State), Deion, was at practice. Deion met with coach Todd Monken and general manager Andrew Berry before practice, and Monken characterized the meeting as "awesome."

          The Browns' offense got off to a slow start, with a disjointed passing game and procedural issues, but Sanders found a rhythm late in practice. After the session, Shedeur and Deion stayed on the practice field and spoke for several minutes.

          General manager Andrew Berry said he is taking a similar approach as last year with a crowded QB room -- open to keeping all four passers on the active roster but willing to strike a deal if one arises: "I don't think that you can necessarily be prescriptive at the beginning of camp because things are going to surprise you in both directions ... we try and maintain as much flexibility as possible."

          More observations from the day:

          • Spencer Fano alternated with Dawand Jones on Thursday and took first-team reps at left tackle. Monken has said he views Fano, the No. 9 pick in the 2026 draft, as a starter but wants him to earn the role in practice.

          • KT Leveston took first-team reps at right guard, one day after Teven Jenkins lined up at the position with the starting unit. The two are competing for a potential starting position.

          • Safety Grant Delpit called new defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg's scheme "exotic" and said there is a lot of disguise and communication. Cleveland is keeping the foundation of ex-DC Jim Schwartz's attacking scheme intact, but the disguised looks could be a big differentiator in 2026.

          • Berry does not have a timeline for when rookie tight end Joe Royer (out for personal reasons) will return to practice: "When he does return, which will hopefully be sooner rather than later, we'll get him ramped up quickly and reintegrated in everything."

          • Cornerback Damarri Mathis returned to practice after leaving Wednesday's session early but did not participate in team drills. Defensive tackle Kalia Davis was absent Thursday after leaving Wednesday's practice early.

          Wednesday, July 29

          The Browns opened training camp Wednesday with the continuation of their quarterback competition between Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, who coach Todd Monken said will continue to split first-team reps in practice.

          On Day 1, it was Watson who took all the first-team reps, but the veteran passer struggled. On back-to-back throws in 11-on-11 drills, Watson threw passes that were intercepted by cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Damarri Mathis.

          Before practice, Monken did not disclose a timeline for naming a starting quarterback but indicated he plans to play his starters in the preseason, which would make for pivotal evaluation periods in the competition.

          More observations from the day:

          • Veteran defensive end Jadeveon Clowney visited the Browns on Wednesday, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. Clowney, 33, had a two-year stint in Cleveland from 2021 to 2022 and recorded 11 sacks.

          • Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. said he missed the offseason workout program because of surgery to address a late-season groin injury but was cleared to play two weeks ago.

          • Fourth-year offensive lineman Dawand Jones lined up at left tackle with the starting unit, while 2026 first-round pick Spencer Fano practiced with the second unit.

          • Mathis and defensive tackle Kalia Davis left practice early with apparent injuries and did not return.

          • Rookie tight end Joe Royer was not at practice because of personal reasons.

          • Ward on his record-breaking extension: "I'm a Cleveland kid through and through and this is where I'm at, and this is where I want to be."