Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 1: Myles Garrett 'happy' for Nick Bosa after deal

BEREA — Game week is finally here for the Browns. A real game week, that is.

The Browns have reached the week of the season opener. They will play host to the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Before they get to Sunday, they must get through this week. That means meetings and practices and the minutiae of the NFL game week.

That's where this space gets involved. Whatever that minutiae may be, from roster moves to injury updates to practice participation — or anything else, really — you can find it updated below until game day.

Keep checking back for the latest Browns news and notes as they get ready for the opener against the Bengals.

Friday's Browns news and notes

Myles Garrett 'happy' for 49ers star Nick Bosa following mega deal

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa ended his holdout earlier this week when the former Ohio State Buckeye became the highest paid non-quarterback in NFL history. Bosa signed a five-year, $170 million contract that includes $122.5 million in guarantees.

At one time, Garrett was the highest-paid defensive end when he signed his five-year, $125 million extension in July 2020. Now that Bosa's sailed past him, he was asked if he cared about that fact.

"I mean, maybe my mother and my agent do, but for me, not particularly," Garrett said. "I wouldn't see the news unless it was placed right in front of me, so I don't worry about another man's money or anything like that. He went out there and earned it. He got DPOY and he's been ballin' lately and wishing the best for him, want to see him healthy and want to see great football be played by great football players and happy for him."

Garrett restructured his contract for this season two weeks ago, converting $16.17 million of his salary to a signing bonus to help create $12.936 million in cap room.

The restructuring also reduced his cap hit over the next three seasons. His 2024 cap hit was reduced by $11.96 million, while it goes down by $7.8 million in 2025 and by $8.2 million in 2026, the final official year of the deal.

"I'm not worried about when that happens," Garrett said of a new deal. "I want to do right by my team and my teammates and when we come to that time, when it's time for us to renegotiate or whatever we want to call it, then we'll come to the table. But until then, just keep on playing football at the highest level and keep on enjoying playing the game with my teammates."

Kevin Stefanski says who'll wear 'green dot' on defense, sort of

One defensive player on the field is allowed to get the audio calls from the coaches at any given time. That player has a green dot on his helmet.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked who that individual could be this season.

"It can rotate based on who the linebackers are in there," Stefanski said.

So, who will that be against the Bengals?

"The starter," Stefanski said.

Thursday's Browns news and notes

Denzel Ward, Juan Thornhill still limited in practice by injuries

The second injury report of the week came out on Thursday. Cornerback Denzel Ward remains the biggest name on the list, as he was limited for the second consecutive practice while working through the concussion protocol.

Another Browns' starting defensive back was also limited for the second consecutive practice. Safety Juan Thornhill was working to the side with a trainer as he tries to shake off a calf injury.

Ward's status is the one that seems to be the most pressing. He's been in the protocol since sustaining the concussion Aug. 26 against the Kansas City Chiefs.

There's a growing belief Ward will play Sunday against Cincinnati. However, no one is speaking to that right now.

“That's for Coach (Kevin Stefanski)," cornerback Greg Newsome II said Thursday. "I don't know about what he's doing. I mean I hope he's out there, but that's a coach question.”

The other limited Browns player was defensive end Alex Wright, who's coming back from knee surgery on a partially-torn meniscus last month. Right tackle Jack Conklin did not practice on Thursday as part of a veteran rest day,

Two veterans who sat Wednesday for rest days — Amari Cooper and Joel Bitonio — were back on the field Thursday.

Wednesday's Browns news and notes

Wyatt Teller joins contract restructuring parade for Browns

Right guard Wyatt Teller became the fifth Browns player over the last two-plus weeks to restructure his contract to help open up 2023 salary cap space, the Beacon Journal has confirmed. Spotrac was the first to report.

Teller converted $11.42 million of his salary into a signing bonus. There was also a $6.3 million void year added at the end of the deal in 2026.

The move opens up $9.136 million in cap space for the season. Teller's cap hit is now $6.2 million for the season.

Fellow guard Joel Bitonio, defensive end Myles Garrett, tight end David Njoku and tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. all have made similar moves since mid-August.

Marquise Goodwin continues to progress after blood clots

Marquise Goodwin is on the right track to possibly be able to play for the Browns Sunday. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the veteran receiver was progressing back into form.

Goodwin was activated off the non-football illness list after the final preseason game in late August. He had spent the entire preseason on the list because of blood clots in the legs and lungs.

The 32-year-old Goodwin was asked last week about whether or not he would play against Cincinnati. He was specifically asked about getting into game shape for the opener.

"It's a good question," Goodwin said. "I'm in shape. In game shape, I would have to play in some games, so we'll see after I play in the game."

Veteran rest days the only reason any Browns miss practice

There were a total of 51 of the 53 Browns on the active roster participating in practice. The two off to the side with the trainers were receiver Amari Cooper and left guard Joel Bitonio.

Never fear, though. Both players were getting their usual days off for rest, which they also received throughout last season.

Cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion), Goodwin (illness), defensive end Alex Wright (knee) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) were all limited in practice for the Browns. The Bengals only listed defensive end Joseph Ossai (knee) as having not practiced.

Quarterback Joe Burrow (calf) and receiver Tyler Boyd (toe) were full practice participants for Cincinnati.

Dustin Hopkins back at practice, will kick at stadium

Dustin Hopkins wasn't at practice Monday for an unspecified reason. However, the kicker was back in Berea for Wednesday's practice, where they ramped things up for the opener.

Hopkins was acquired in a trade on Aug. 28 from the Los Angeles Chargers. While he had one opportunity to work at the stadium last week, Stefanski said there would be other opportunities to kick on the lakefront before the opener.

The 10-year veteran has never kicked a regular-season field goal in Cleveland. He is 2 of 3 on point-after tries, all in a 2020 game with Washington.

Another number change, this time for rookie Cedric Tillman

Another day, another number change for the Browns. This time, it's rookie receiver Cedric Tillman, who's changing from No. 89 to No. 19.

If you're keeping track, No. 19 used to be Goodwin, who is now No. 3. No. 3 used to be Cade York who is now on the Tennessee Titans practice squad.

No. 79 is now Dawand Jones, who used to be No. 74. No. 93 is now Shelby Harris, who used to be No. 97.

No. 0 is now Greg Newsome II, who used to be No. 20. No. 20 is now Pierre Strong Jr., who used to be with the New England Patriots.

No. 6 is now Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who used to be No. 28. No. 28 is now Mike Ford Jr., who used to be No. 27.

Tuesday's Browns news and notes

Unofficial depth charts for Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals

The Browns and Bengals put out their unofficial depth charts for Sunday's opener in Cleveland:

Monday's Browns news and notes

Kevin Stefanski said preparation for Bengals started when schedule came out

The Browns have known the Bengals were going to be their opening-game opponent since the schedule's release in May. That's also when they started getting to work on preparing for Cincinnati.

"I think every team, honestly, it's when that schedule comes out, your eyes immediately go to that first game," Stefanski said following Monday's practice. "So you start thinking about it now. You also want to, if you believe in your process, you don't want to get too far ahead. So we've tried to pump the brakes a little bit and not give the players a game plan too early. So you got to fight that urge back in April to start game planning because you don't know yet what you're good at. "

The Bengals are part of a four-game opening stretch that features games against each of the Browns' three AFC North rivals. They will play a Monday night game in Pittsburgh against the Steelers in Week 2, then play host to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 on Oct. 1.

Kicker Dustin Hopkins absent from practice, but not a concern beyond Monday

The one surprise absence of Monday's practice was Dustin Hopkins. The kicker, acquired a week ago in a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers, had been present for the final two practices last week.

Coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about Hopkins' absence after Monday's practice. He said, "Not here today. He'll be here tomorrow."

Cornerback Denzel Ward remains sidelined in concussion protocol

The Browns had just one player absent from the week's first practice in preparation for the opener. Cornerback Denzel Ward remains out in the concussion protocol.

Ward has been sidelined since sustaining the concussion during the first quarter of the Browns' preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 26. It's the fourth reported concussion of his career.

The Bengals have been a team against which Ward has had great success in his career. He has three career interceptions, including two touchdown returns, in eight games against Cincinnati.

No. 3 quarterback P.J. Walker makes his first appearance at practice

P.J. Walker was among the players the Browns picked up to add to the practice squad last Wednesday. However, the quarterback was unable to make it to his new home before the team had a three-day weekend.

Walker was on the field Monday when the Browns officially started practice for Sunday's opener. He will wear No. 10, although he is the No. 3 quarterback behind Deshaun Watson and Dorian Thompson-Robinson.

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns news and notes, Week 1: Daily live updates