Wednesday was a dream come true for head coach Todd Monken.
It was the first day of training camp for the Browns at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus, and it's a moment that Monken has been working towards.
"You work your whole life for an opportunity," Monken said. "Not sure if it'll ever come and if it didn't, that's what's meant to be. Obviously, a dream come true."
With the sun beating down, a new era of Browns football took the field. They have new personnel across multiple position groups heading into this season — including at quarterback and wide receiver — where position battles are continuing from OTAs and minicamp.
The team started with individual drills and followed those with split-field 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work before ending the day with more 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work on one field.
With a new head coach in Monken, three new coordinators — including offensive coordinator Travis Switzer and defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg – a talented draft class and free agency class, there's a lot to breakdown through just one day of training camp so far.
A look at the QBs on Day 1
According to Monken before practice, nothing has really changed with the quarterback situation from the spring. All four quarterbacks — Dillon Gabriel, Taylen Green, Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson — are expected to compete throughout camp.
All four quarterbacks won't get equal reps, though, as was on display on Wednesday. The Browns are still rotating Sanders and Watson with the projected starters.
"Again, we have to divide the reps up according to the depth chart," Monken said. "In a perfect world in camp, me personally, I would prefer the ones get 50 percent, the twos get 33 percent and the threes get 17 percent, and some of the other guys got to fill in. Can you always count on that? No."
Watson took the majority of his reps with the starting unit during alternating 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 reps, while Sanders was with the second unit on the other field.
In one stint of 7-on-7, Watson completed five straight passes, firing two to RB Quinshon Judkins and TE Harold Fannin Jr. Watson also connected with WR Isaiah Bond during 11-on-11 work.
Sanders found WR KC Concepcion during split-work 7-on-7s multiple times, including a deep ball down the sideline. He also connected with WR Denzel Boston on a short throw by the hashmarks during 11-on-11. The majority of reps that Sanders took during team drills came with Concepcion and Boston, and ninth overall pick Spencer Fano at left tackle.
Both quarterbacks were able to connect on deeper passes during two-minute drill work towards the end of practice, with Watson finding WR Jerry Jeudy and Sanders locating Boston.
Gabriel took most of the remaining 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 teamwork towards the end of practice, connecting with WR Cedric Tillman on an intermediate throw.
Check out the top shots from Day 1 of 2026 Browns Training Camp as players got to work with drills, workouts and team prep at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Michael Coats Jr. (39) and Defensive Backs Coach/Pass Game Specialist Coach Brandon Lynch during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Line Development Assistant LaRoy Reynolds during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) and Linebacker Quincy Williams (5) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Quincy Williams (5) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Benton Whitley (61) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Aaron Anderson (85) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Fullback Michael Burton (34) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The team during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Run Game Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
An Eaton jersey patch during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) and Cornerback Michael Coats Jr. (39) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Jack Stoll (89) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Myles Bryant (27) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Ahmani Marshall (23) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Special Teams Coordinator Byron Storer during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Special Teams Coordinator Byron Storer during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Pass Game Coordinator Ephraim Banda during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Backs Coach/Pass Game Specialist Coach Brandon Lynch during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Line Coach George Warhop during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The offensive line during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) and Defensive Coordinator Mike Rutenberg during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Assistant/Nickelbacks Coach Jeff Anderson during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Special Teams Coordinator Byron Storer during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Assistant/Assistant Linebackers Coach Zach Dunn during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
The linebackers during Day 1 of Training Camp on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) and Performance Therapist Steven Best during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Long snapper Rex Sunahara (50) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (62) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Aaron Anderson (85) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (54) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (28) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Zion Washington (34) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) during a workout on July 29, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Revamped wide receiver room takes the field
Following the 2026 NFL Draft, in which the Browns used two of their top three picks to select Concepcion and Boston, all eyes have been on how the new look wide receiver room will shape out.
On Wednesday, Bond and Jeudy were with Watson most of the time during split 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 work, as well as team drills. On the flip side, Concepcion and Boston worked with Sanders for the majority of practice.
Bond, who was signed as an undrafted free agent last season by the Browns, is looking to build off a rookie campaign in which he posted 18 receptions for 338 yards.
Working in with Bond and Jeudy towards the end of practice in the 11-on-11 team drills was third-year WR Jamari Thrash in the slot.
Tillman, who is also in the mix for targets this year, made a couple of nice grabs across both team sessions of 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 play. WR Tylan Wallace, who signed with the Browns during the offseason after spending his first five seasons with the Ravens, was able to work in with both groups of wide receivers.
Defense steps up on first day
There were hardly any big plays given up in the first practice under Rutenberg, with the defense aiming to continue its strong play in recent years.
Newly acquired DE Jared Verse made presence felt during 11-on-11 drills, getting home for what would-be sacks or tackles for loss throughout the day. Verse lined up with DE Alex Wright on the opposite end, and DTs Mason Graham and Mike Hall Jr. on the inside.
There wasn't much room for Judkins or RB Dylan Sampson in the run game during 11-on-11 drills, with the defense swarming to the ball carriers.
At one point during 7-on-7 split field work, CB Denzel Ward and CB Damarri Mathis intercepted Watson on back-to-back plays, showcasing the defense's potential big-play ability.
"I feel I could definitely get more [interceptions]," Ward said before practice. "I always invite more targets. I want more targets, get more action on the ball. I could definitely get more and I need to get more, and that's going to be the goal again going into this year, to get more interceptions."
During 11-on-11, S Christopher Edmonds swatted down an attempted screen pass from Sanders, which was met with a roar from the defense's sideline.
