BEREA — The last time Martin Emerson Jr. lined up to defend against Justin Jefferson, the two were battling it out as SEC rivals at Mississippi State and LSU. The Browns cornerback may get his opportunity to do it again this week when the Minnesota Vikings' wide receiver is in town for a pair of joint practices.

“I hope so," Emerson said Monday of going against Jefferson. "I really don't care, honestly, who’s lined up against me. I'm going to make him respond to me, do my job, do what I do, but of course got that on my mind when he comes in here. He's one of the best receivers in the game, excited to get game reps against him and just learn whatever I can and just apply to my game from those reps.”

A lot of time has passed between that 2019 night in Starkville, Mississippi, and this Wednesday and Thursday, when the Browns and Vikings will conduct their joint practices in Berea. Both Emerson and Jefferson have come a long way in their own football careers as well.

Jefferson's become one of the NFL's top receivers since being taken in the first round of the 2020 draft. He's also gotten paid like one, earning a record four-year, $140 million deal this offseason.

Emerson, meanwhile, has started to come out of the shadows where he's existed since the Browns took him in the third round in the 2022 draft. Just how far out of the shadows he's going to get an opportunity to showcase during those two days, whether or not he spends a lot of time actually lined up against Jefferson.

"I would hope so," Emerson said. "I know the ones, we are getting a lot of reps this week in these joint practices, so I'm just excited to go against a good receiver corps, young quarterback, just see what they got and see what they bring to town. We'll be prepared. It’s going to be fun."

Emerson had a little fun in Monday's practice as well. Early in 11-on-11 drills, the 6-foot-3 cornerback stepped in front of quarterback Deshaun Watson's deep pass intended to 5-10 wide receiver Elijah Moore, easily intercepting the pass.

Just to add a little flair to the return, Emerson flipped the ball to teammate Denzel Ward to continue the return. Consider it a small gesture of gratitude from the third-year pro to the three-time Pro Bowler, with whom he spent time working in Florida during the offseason, the points learned from that trip Emerson is quick to name.

“Just focus on the task at hand," Emerson said. "Just be where your feet are. No day is [more] important than the other one. Just focus on the day at hand, whatever you have in front of you and just get better. That's how the real pros do it. Treat each day like a game, come in and just try to find a way to improve and bring somebody along with you."

This week's another opportunity for Emerson to do just that. He would tell you any practice or any game falls into that category, although it's clear over his career that joint practices have been very good to him,

The previous two preseasons have seen the Browns and Philadelphia Eagles match up in joint practices. That has given Emerson opportunities to go against the likes of DeVonta Smith or A.J. Smith, matchups during which he's more than held his own.

"I remember that first joint practice," Emerson said. "I would say it was very fun, it was different. Didn't really know what to expect coming in as a rookie, but I was just excited to get those reps against other guys and make plays obviously because that's what we do. But I feel like I did pretty good, pretty good, but it was always room for improvement. So that first joint practice, it was pretty good. It was OK. It wasn't to my expectation though.”

An expectation that's been high from the day Emerson arrived in Cleveland. An expectation that was high, even back when he was battling Jefferson in the SEC.

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: Martin Emerson Jr. eyeing practices against Vikings, Justin Jefferson