Notes: Jamari Thrash says he's ready for bigger role if Cedric Tillman can't play

BEREA — Jamari Thrash's time may have arrived.The rookie receiver, who was drafted in the fifth round, has one catch in four games and 37 snaps. He could see a sharp increase in playing time Monday night in Denver if Cedric Tillman is unable to play due to a concussion."I think about that quote, 'You have to stay ready, so you don't have to get ready.' That's what our backups do," coach Kevin Stefanski said. "Whether you're on the practice squad or Jamari's been active and hasn't played a ton, but he stays ready. He practices really hard, has done a nice job in his opportunities."Jerry Jeudy discusses wanting out of Denver, expanded role in Cleveland and Monday night matchup vs. BroncosAt 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, Tillman has size and strength unique to the receiving corps. He was injured Nov. 21 in the win over the Steelers and still hadn't returned to practice Friday. Stefanski said he hadn't been ruled out.Thrash (6-0, 190) had a good preseason to earn a roster spot but has been stuck behind Amari Cooper (until he was traded), Jerry Jeudy, Tillman and Elijah Moore on the depth chart. If Tillman doesn't play, Thrash, practice squader Kadarius Toney and Jaelon Darden would be the options behind Jeudy and Moore. The coaches could also use more two-tight end packages."What I've learned is really just take everything a day at a time and you've got to prepare like you're a starter," Thrash said. "You never know when your time is here, when it's your moment. So I just try to make sure I stay locked in, go over my plays, get extra sessions in with some of the player personnel guys to make sure I go over the plays."Michael Dunn reflects on training camp health scare, inspiration for "My Cause My Cleats"Quarterback Jameis Winston has been instrumental in Thrash's development, taking time before and after practice to make sure everyone knows what they're supposed to do."When you have a young receiver that's hungry for knowledge and wants to know what to be, what to do and what I'm thinking, I think that's just inspiring for me because I know when he comes in, I can trust him," Winston said. "So it is just building that trust and him building those consistent reps, and so you never know when that opportunity comes. And he's been getting some play time. He got his first catch in New Orleans, so he's just staying prepared and continuing to work."Thrash filled in during the fourth quarter after Tillman was hurt against the Steelers.Jameis Winston likes idea of staying with Browns, has 'truly embraced' Cleveland"I feel like the game is starting to slow down a little bit for me and I can play a lot faster and play at my pace of the game," he said.INJURY REPORTFree safety Juan Thornhill missed practice for the second straight day after injuring a calf Monday. He's been plagued by calf injuries since signing with the Browns before last season, missing five games last year and five games this season."He's trending in the right direction, but we'll see where it goes," Stefanski said of Thornhill's availability for Monday.Zone Coverage Podcast** Tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) also remained out. Stefanski didn't rule him out for Monday, and the team will release the status report for the game Saturday afternoon.Germain Ifedi is expected to make his second straight start at left tackle. He was limited with a biceps injury, but Stefanski said he should be fine.** Defensive tackle Sam Kamara (head) was added to the injury report and didn't practice.** Tight end Geoff Swaim (concussion) remained out.** Cornerbacks Greg Newsome II (abdomen) and Myles Harden (tibia) were limited.** For the Broncos, quarterback Bo Nix (back) was a full participant after being limited Thursday. Cornerback Riley Moss (knee) didn't practice for the second straight day.SAFETY DANCEThornhill has rotated with Ronnie Hickman the last two games."Two players we like there and two players that have also had some injury history," coordinator Jim Schwartz said. "So just try to lessen the load on both and try to mitigate their injury opportunity a little bit."Hickman was undrafted out of Ohio State in 2023."Yeah, Ronnie just has really good range in the deep part of the field and even though he's a young player, he's a really, really good communicator," Schwartz said. "He does a good job keeping everybody on the same page."I know a couple weeks ago he missed a key tackle, but his tackling has been drastically improved, and he's just become a reliable player for us. Probably his strength is range in the deep part of the field."WE HAVE A SITUATIONBears coach and former Browns linebackers coach Matt Eberflus was fired Friday after the Bears botched the end-of-game clock management Thursday in a 23-20 loss to the Lions. Chicago had a timeout but ran just one play, an incompletion, in the final 30-plus seconds and wasn't able to attempt a field goal.Stefanski uses Fridays to prepare the Browns for specific situations. They practice the two-minute drill and he shows the players tape from games across the league."You're always trying to educate the guys about those moments," he said. "One of the things we talk about is shared situational awareness and it's not good enough just for me to know the situation or just the quarterback, it's got to be everybody on the same page."BREATHING ROOMThe Browns should be as prepared as possible for the thin air of Denver. Their facility has a room designed to simulate being at altitude."I'm going to be encouraging all my teammates to use the altitude room," Winston said Wednesday. "I know I got my work in yesterday and I'm probably going to get some more in throughout the week."The room has treadmills, bikes and ski machines to help with cardio and increase oxygen levels.EXTRA POINTSToney, a former first-round pick of the Giants, is an option as a returner if he's active on gameday, special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone said."He gives you a threat back there with the ball," Ventrone said. "He's a good runner with the ball, has good vision, quickness. KT does a really good job of being able to make guys miss in a short area and then burst out of that."** Defensive end Elerson Smith was re-signed to the practice squad after being waived from the active roster Wednesday.The post Notes: Jamari Thrash says he's ready for bigger role if Cedric Tillman can't play first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.