Here’s a recap of the day from Cleveland Browns Training Camp

Denzel Ward signs rookie contract

No need to worry about any holdouts with any members of the Browns rookie class.

Fourth overall pick Denzel Ward signed his four year deal worth $29.165 million (fully guaranteed) including a signing bonus worth $19.291 million.

Baker Mayfield signed his contract on Tuesday evening which was also for four years and worth $32.68 million (fully guaranteed) with a signing bonus worth $21.85 million.

Gordon moved to “Did Not Report” list

Days after the team announced that wide receiver Josh Gordon would be placed on the “Non-Football Injury list, general manager John Dorsey announced on Wednesday that the team was placing Gordon on the “did not report” list instead.

It may not mean anything except for the team to open up a roster spot but this situation does seem to get stranger with each passing day.

Louis out for season

Browns wide receiver Ricardo Louis will miss the entire 2018 season after undergoing surgery on his injured neck. The third-year receiver injured his neck late in the season and didn’t seem to get better as time has passed, thus the team and Louis opted for him to undergo surgery.

A fourth round pick out of Auburn in 2016, Louis had 27 catches for 357 yards last season in 16 games (9 starts).

Three players to start on PUP list

Head coach Hue Jackson announced on Wednesday that the team will have three players listed on the “Physically Unable to Perform” list when training camp opens on Thursday afternoon.

• Jabrill Peppers (groin)
• Chad Thomas (groin)
• Desmond Harrison (ankle)

Once they are cleared to practice, they will be removed off the list and will be eligible to practice with the rest of the team. For now, they’ll likely be on the bikes which over the past few seasons has been dubbed “Tour De Berea”.

Browns discuss Dez Bryant

With the absence of Josh Gordon for the immediate future, many questioned John Dorsey if there would be any interest in the team bringing in former Dallas Cowboys veteran Dez Bryant.

Dorsey told reporters that the team has discussed Bryant among other recievers and he also added that Bryant is “very passionate and talented”.

Bryant was released by Dallas in April after eight seasons with team. He turned down a multi-year offer from the Baltimore Ravens and will reportedly only sign with a playoff/Super Bowl contending team.

Hue and Dorsey re-iterate: Tyrod is the starting QB

Both Hue Jackson and John Dorsey re-iterated on Wednesday that Tyrod Taylor is the starting quarterback of the Cleveland Browns.

When asked if Baker Mayfield would see reps with the first team offense, Jackson said:

“Tyrod Taylor is the starter. I don’t envision any situation where all of a sudden he is getting a bunch first team reps – unless, god-forbid, something happens. But at the same time, there might be a day – please no one hold me to it – a day where Tyrod, all of a sudden, maybe does not go, and Baker’s out there and people go, ‘Oh my gosh.’ It would not be that. Let’s not turn that into now he is going to be the starter. That is not what it is. I am committed to making this work the way we have it, because I feel it’s best for the organization and best for the player. If the players supersedes that, it will show itself. You guys will know probably faster than we all do, because you guys look at it that way. Trust me, I think we’re in a really, really good place right now.”

I think they’re doing this the right way. There has been some situations where rookies have been able to step in, play right away and contribute at a high-level. There has also been a number of situations where a rookie has been rushed in and it’s ruined their careers and we’ve seen it plenty with Browns rookie quarterbacks in the past.

Tyrod Taylor is a successful NFL quarterback with a good track record. There’s nothing wrong with him being the starter for the Browns during the 2018 season and there’s nothing wrong with Baker Mayfield sitting back and soaking everything in from Taylor and veteran Drew Stanton and watching what Taylor does while Mayfield is on the sidelines.

Mayfield will get his chance and I also think he will be absolutely ready for when that time comes.