How Browns defense bested Eagles again and other observations from joint practice, Day 2: Ashley Bastock

“I mean, Denzel really doesn’t get enough notoriety,” Browns safety Grant Delpit said. “When you bring up top-five corners, the top-three corners of the league, Denzel is top two. So if you just cut the tape on, you can see this day in and day out.”

What in Delpit’s eyes, makes it possible for Ward to make plays like this one? It’s all about technique.

“Not a lot of people could play like Ward,” he continued. “His technique at the line, I’m probably not going to be able to do that. He just mirrors people and runs with ‘em and reacts.”

Ward and the Browns’ secondary kept the Eagles out of the end zone during team periods on Thursday, wrapping up joint practices on a high note.

While Hurts took care of the football more, unlike Wednesday when the Cleveland D intercepted him three times, the secondary still did a good job being disruptive.

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In addition to Ward’s tight play, one backup in particular stepped up during the final team period.

The final play of the day was a big breakup in the end zone courtesy of undrafted rookie corner Dom Jones, who was matched up with Eagles receiver Darius Cooper near the back right corner of the end zone.

While Hurts took a majority of the snaps against the Browns defense, he was without several key pieces. Star running back Saquon Barkley was limited by design to get him some rest. All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson had a planned rest day too. Left guard Landon Dickerson is still out after undergoing a procedure for his meniscus. WR A.J. Brown was still unavailable due to a hamstring injury.

But even though the Eagles were shorthanded, credit to Ward and company for still doing what they were supposed to do.

Here are more observations from the second day of joint practice:

Browns’ pass rush still aggressive

The defensive line was the highlight of the first practice on Wednesday, and continued to perform against a depleted Eagles front on Thursday.

There was still little the Eagles O-line could do against Myles Garrett, who continued to create pressure and had at least two more would-be sacks on Thursday.

For both, he maneuvered around Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata, who he also baited into a false start during the second team period.

After practice, Mailata quipped that he’ll probably “go back and giggle” when he watches the film from these practices because Garrett is truly one of one.

Mason Graham continued to create pressure up the middle as well, looking like the first-round pick he is.

Delpit’s big hit

Delpit had the hit of the day, going against Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren.

The play came on third down during the second 11-on-11 period, and while VanSumeren held onto the ball on a pass from Hurts, Delpit nearly picked it off and finished with a hard hit.

The two shook off the play and it didn’t escalate further, but showed the kind of physicality Delpit can bring.

Browns tight ends perform in final period

In the final situational 11-on-11 period, both Joe Flacco and Dillon Gabriel ended their respective drives with touchdowns thanks to two of their biggest pass catchers.

Flacco found David Njoku cutting across the left side of the end zone for a score. The Browns tight end celebrated with his patented Chief slam TD celebration.

Gabriel found rookie TE Harold Fannin going deep left for a score, with Fannin picking up some key yards after the catch. Unfortunately, Gabriel was picked on a two-point conversion by Eagles safety Andrew Mukuba as the ball bounced out of Diontae Johnson’s hands.

Jason Kelce on site

Hours after breaking the internet, Jason Kelce was on site for the second day of Browns Eagles joint practice.

The former long-time Eagles center and Cleveland Heights native spoke with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam just before practice started between his former team and hometown team.

Kelce and his brother, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, have been in the spotlight the last 24 hours in particular, due to the brothers’ interview with Taylor Swift on their New Heights Podcast. Travis Kelce and Swift have been dating for the last two years, and this was their first interview together.