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Browns camp updates, day 14: Tempers flare as Eagles soar during second joint practice

PHILADELPHIA — The Browns and Philadelphia Eagles are getting an early jump on getting finish with their joint practice.

The teams have moved up the start time to Tuesday's workout at the NovaCare Complex to 1:45 this afternoon. According to a Browns spokesperson, the decision was made due to the weather, with thunderstorms in the forecast after 4 p.m. for the Philadelphia area.

The practice, like Monday's, was originally scheduled to start at 5 p.m. The Browns and Eagles went for roughly 85 minutes in the first one.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is scheduled to meet with the media at 1:15 p.m. Updates on Myles Garrett (foot), Denzel Ward (illness) and Jack Conklin (head) will be front and center in that briefing.

Keep checking back here for updates throughout the afternoon.

Tempers flare after Philadelphia Eagles get interception

Hot days and competitive teams tends to often lead to a skirmish or two. There was one during Tuesday's practice during an 11-on-11 red-zone period when the Browns' offense was going against the Eagles' defense.

Deshaun Watson had a pass batted into the air by Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham and intercepted by safety Reed Blankenship. It was at the end of the return that tempers flared after Blankenship ran over the Browns' Demetric Felton Jr. on the sidelines.

At the center of it was Browns' rookie right tackle Dawand Jones, although it drew in several players before it eventually settled. Even Browns owner Jimmy Haslam took a few steps in the fight's direction from his viewing location just behind the end zone, but he turned around.

"We're going into this week trying to get better in practice and work and there's sometimes there's some cheap shots and things like that where you want to defend yourself," said left guard Joel Bitonio, who was on the field for the play. "I don't know the exact situation, but there was a couple shots today where we're trying to make sure we're getting the best out of practice and not fighting. But it was just a little heated second day. It always gets a little bit more fired up."

The "cheap shots" Bitonio referenced revolved around how the Browns felt at times the Eagles were taking liberties with Watson. None of the quarterbacks were fair game for the defenses to lay out during the two practices.

However, even beyond that, there's general rule of thumb to not allow the defense get too close to the quarterback on any play.

"I mean it's just in our practice, you protect the quarterback," Bitonio said. "You don't want to come close to the quarterback, you don't want to take cheap shots, things like that where there might've been a couple where questionable plays both ways today.

That was the only actual fight to break out between the two teams over either of the two days. Bitonio joked that he wasn't surprised saying, "that's why you do two days because three days it'd be a blood bath the last day."

Philadelphia Eagles set the tone on second day

The Eagles clearly came into the day looking to set the tone. After a first day in which the Browns, especially on defense, seemed to get the best of Philadelphia, the roll were completely reversed on Tuesday.

Even though there were no more skirmishes, the Eagles played with a bounce in their step. That bounce only got bigger with each play they made.

"We just had to play a little bit of chip on our shoulder compared to yesterday," Eagles safety K'Von Wallace said Play with a little more edge. It showed and ended up dominating on both sides of the ball."

Myles Garrett, Denzel Ward, Elijah Moore to do individual drills

Three Browns players with injury or illness concerns in the last few days were all in uniform and expected to go through at least some drills Tuesday with the Eagles. Coach Kevin Stefanski said prior to the afternoon workout that defensive end Myles Garrett (foot), cornerback Denzel Ward (illness) and receiver Elijah Moore (ribs) were all expected to take part in individual drills.

Garrett and Ward left Monday's practice against the Eagles. Moore was taken to the locker room for X-rays, which were negative, following the first offensive series of last Friday's preseason game against the Washington Commanders.

"All good," Garrett said after practice. "I got ruled up on and had some pain. The guys are looking out for me and wanted to be a little bit cautious with today to see how I felt. Got out there, moving well, was feeling good. They told me just cool for team and just let the guys work."

Stefanski said Ward's illness was heat related. Both days for practice, the real temperature was in the upper 80s, and even at time in the 90s.

Jack Conklin in concussion protocol

Right tackle Jack Conklin was placed in the concussion protocol, Stefanski said. Conklin left Monday's practice with a head injury.

James Hudson III takes over at right tackle in Conklin's absence.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson to start Thursday's preseason game

Stefanski said rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start at quarterback for Thursday evening's preseason game against the Eagles. He'll play the first half.

Kellen Mond will then take over after half and finish the game. Deshaun Watson and Joshua Dobbs will not play.

It's the same plan, only reversed in order, Stefanski used for the Hall of Fame Game against the New York Jets.

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: Browns training camp: Live updates from joint practice with Eagles