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What Cleveland Browns players stood out during training camp? These 5 were among the best

BEREA — The Browns have put a bow on training camp.

What started on a late July Thursday in West Virginia ended on a sunny Wednesday in Berea. Those days were the bookends to what amounted to 16 total camp practices.

Over the course of those practices, there were ebbs and flows to each player's performance, which isn't something unusual. However, there were several players for whom the bad days seemed to be significantly fewer than the good ones.

What follows is five Browns players, listed alphabetically, who were among the big training camp winners.

Martin Emerson Jr., cornerback

Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. watches the team warmup before an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. watches the team warmup before an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The third-year pro was the subject of a number of offseason stories that singled him out as a potential breakout star this season. The training camp Emerson had only strengthens that argument. The big, physical cornerback was an every-day player in camp, a rarity among a position group that has been riddled with injuries this camp. Emerson's signature moment came during the two days of joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings, when he held his ground against All-Pro wide receiver Justin Jefferson, earning post-practice plaudits from the superstar pass catcher.

Myles Garrett, defensive end

Aug 4, 2024; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 4, 2024; Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Garrett didn't participate in the first seven practices while the Browns were at The Greenbrier. Turns out, those weren't even necessary. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year has been unstoppable whenever he's been on the field. Garrett's been one reason why the Browns' left tackles have looked so poor in training camp. However, the most impressive part of his camp came the two days he went against the Vikings' Christian Darrisaw. The highest-paid left tackle in the sport was put on skates by arguably the most freakish edge rusher in the game.

Myles Harden, cornerback

Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Dakota defensive back Myles Harden (DB13) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; South Dakota defensive back Myles Harden (DB13) works out during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

It was a good training camp for players named Myles. The seventh-round pick out of FCS Division I University of South Dakota was an intriguing draft pick entering camp. He left camp as a player who's going to make general manager Andrew Berry's final decision on him very difficult with the way he's performed. Harden was another player who made the most of a lot of extra reps because of injuries at the cornerback position. He also capitalized on the practices with the Vikings to draw extra attention to him.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, quarterback

Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) signals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) signals during the first half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

This isn't the quarterback many Browns fans hoped to see on this list as having had a great camp. However, Thompson-Robinson deserves his own flowers for how he's bounced back from a season-ending hip injury last December to show noticeable progress and development in his second season in the league. The ball looks like it comes out of his hand with little bit more zip, while also finding much smaller windows to fit through. The performance has given the Browns two potential options with him, both which could help the team. They could keep him as their No. 3 quarterback, or he may have generated enough interest on the trade market to at least fetch something of value in return.

Zak Zinter, guard

Cleveland Browns guard Zak Zinter (70) blocks Green Bay Packers defensive end Spencer Waege (64) as Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) passes during the second half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Cleveland Browns guard Zak Zinter (70) blocks Green Bay Packers defensive end Spencer Waege (64) as Cleveland Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) passes during the second half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.

This last spot was down to two offensive rookies: Zinter and wide receiver Jamari Thrash. Thrash certainly has had a solid camp, the kind which could earn the fifth-round pick out of the University of Louisville a spot on the team. However, Zinter's been pressed into service just months after being taken in the third round despite no pre-draft process due to the leg fracture he suffered last November. The University of Michigan product has proven to be a quick learner. He's worked at both left and right guard, and had been solid in both spots. In the first two preseason games, he did not give up a single quarterback pressure.

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

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett, Martin Emerson Jr. among Browns training camp standouts