Browns offseason availability live updates: Deshaun Watson, Kevin Stefanski speak

BEREA — Many of the Browns players returned to the team facility on Monday for the start of the voluntary offseason program. On Tuesday, a couple of them will get a chance to update their progress since the AFC wild card loss at Houston in mid-January.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson and cornerback Denzel Ward are expected to speak to the media during an availability at the team's Berea headquarters on Tuesday. After they speak, head coach Kevin Stefanski will be available for the final time before the Browns head into the NFL draft on April 25-27.

Follow along here for updates throughout the day as the Browns get back to work for the upcoming season:

Deshaun Watson: 'It's all about load management'

Deshaun Watson only started throwing last month after his November shoulder surgery. Both he and the Browns have been vague in giving specific dates along the timeline.

"Right now, it's all about load management," Watson said. "Not doing too much, even if I could do more. Just staying on track."

Denzel Ward: Wild card last not part of his viewing habits since January

Cornerback Denzel Ward was asked how many times he's watched the Browns' playoff loss to Houston since the season ended. Ward, to no one's surprise, hasn't watched it since then.

"Honestly, I haven't even watched that game yet, so I haven't watched it yet," Ward said. "Yeah, I just haven't even got to it yet, honestly."

Denzel Ward on new hip-drop tackle rule

The NFL has created a new rule last month to outlaw the swing hip-drop tackle. Cornerback Denzel Ward said they've already talked about the rule, but said he didn't think it was going to be an issue for him personally because of the way he plays.

Denzel Ward: 'Energy' great, but Browns driven by playoff loss

Cornerback Denzel Ward said there has been great energy within the building since the Browns players returned on Monday for the offseason program. Ward said a big reason for that is because of the "hunger" the team has after the AFC wild card loss to the Texans.

"I know that's why I'm back in the building," Ward said.

Kevin Stefanski: Nyheim Hines still in rehab process

Newly-signed running back/return man Nyheim Hines continues to work through the rehab process, head coach Kevin Stefanski. Hines, then with the Buffalo Bills, missed all of last season with an torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in a jet ski accident.

Kevin Stefanki: 'You'll hear Duce' Staley with running backs

One of Kevin Stefanski's assistant hires was Duce Staley, who will coach the running backs. Stefanski feels Staley, who previously coached with the Eagles, Lions and Panthers, will quickly become one of the more noticeable coaches on the field.

"You'll hear Duce coaching before you see him," Stefanski said. "He's somebody that played this game at a high level, has coached at a high level. I think he's a really well-respected voice in this building in the league, and certainly in that running back room, those guys will understand what's expected of them.

Kevin Stefanski again deflects play-calling answer

Head coach Kevin Stefanski has grown adept at dodging the question of who will call the plays this season. There's some that believe offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was brought in to potentially take that off the head coach's plate.

Stefanski, yet again, did not answer the question when asked on Tuesday, saying he would reveal that when it's needed. He also said the players haven't asked.

Kevin Stefanski: Defensive players 'building' on Jim Schwartz system

The offense will be learning a new scheme with almost an entirely new offensive coaching staff. That's a similar position to where the defensive players were a year ago when Jim Schwartz was first hired by the Browns as defensive coordinator.

That changes things for the returning defensive players as the classroom work begins.

"It is year two in the system, so you're building off of a lot of what we did last year and there's varying levels of understanding," Stefanski said. "There's some guys that are second year players in the NFL and then there's (safety) Rodney McLeod, there's (cornerback) Denzel (Ward), guys that have been in this game for a little bit, so all of them can brush up, if you will, on the system and then we're going to challenge them. We're going to, obviously in year two you're going to add some things and maybe subtract a few things, but we'll challenge each one of these guys, whether they were here previously or not."

Kevin Stefanski remains vague on Nick Chubb timeline

Kevin Stefanski didn't have any further update on Nick Chubb's timeline to get on the field, either. Chubb has been out since Sept. 18, when he suffered a major knee injury in a Week 2 loss at Pittsburgh.

"I don't know that we'll go past today and this week at least that's the way I'm looking at it," Stefanski said. "I can promise you he's working very hard early in the morning. He's here, he's attacking his rehab. That's the best way I can put it. When he's ready, he'll be ready."

Kevin Stefanski: Doctors have 'very good plan' for Deshaun Watson

Head coach Kevin Stefanski once again would not commit to a specific timeline for when quarterback Deshaun Watson would throw during the offseason program. Instead, he continued to lean on the medical staff and their advice for Watson.

"Yeah, they have a very, very good plan," Stefanski said. "Deshaun, the medical team of ramping him up and throwing and getting, he's doing all the things he's supposed to be doing when it comes to rehab, so when we get to those points and OTAs and minicamp, we will go with what's suggested by the medical team. But he's doing a great job."

Christian Kirksey would miss old stadium, but 'understands' progress

Rashard Higgins' favorite Browns memory: 'The playoffs'

Both Christian Kirksey and Rashard Higgins went through the darkest of times with the Browns. Both were part of the 2016 and 2017 teams which went a combined 1-31, including 0-16 in 2017.

Kirksey's last season in Cleveland was 2019, so he missed out on both playoff trips in the 2020s. Higgins, though, was a part of the 2020 team which went 11-5 and reached the AFC divisional round with a wild-card win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

"The whole city was lit," Higgins recalled. "The food tasted better."

Christian Kirksey, Rashard Higgins retire as Cleveland Browns

Christian Kirksey, Rashard Higgins sign 1-days, retire

Linebacker Christian Kirksey and receiver Rashard Higgins signed one-day contracts with the Browns on Tuesday in order to retire with the team.

Kirksey, a former 2014 third-round pick out of Iowa, originally played with the Browns from 2014-19. Higgins, a 2016 fifth-round pick out of Colorado State, spent 2016-21 with the team.

Kirksey appeared in 73 games with the Browns and registered 463 tackles, 11.5 sacks, two interceptions, 16 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He served as a captain in each of his final three seasons with the club. Kirksey finished among the NFL leaders in tackles in 2016 (third with 143) and 2017 (fourth with 138).

Higgins appeared in 82 games for the Browns and recording 137 receptions for 1,890 yards with 12 touchdowns. The receiver nicknamed "Hollywood" was a favor

What is the voluntary offseason program

The nine-week program is an opportunity for NFL teams to get some early teaching and training before the actual start of training camp. Think what college football teams have with spring practice, only the players aren't required to attend.

The program, as spelled out by the NFL and the Players' Association in their collective bargaining agreement, consists of three phases. Those are:

• Phase One, April 15-26: Activities limited to meetings, strength and conditioning, and physical rehabilitation only.

• Phase Two, April 29-May 17: On-field workouts may include individual or group instruction and drills, as well as “perfect play drills,” and drills and plays with offensive players lining up across from offensive players and defensive players lining up across from defensive players, conducted at a walk-through pace. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

• Phase Three, May 20-June 13: Teams may conduct a total of 10 days of organized team practice activity, or “OTAs”. No live contact is permitted, but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted. Mandatory minicamp, which runs June 11-13 for the Browns, typically concludes the phase.

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: Browns offseason program news from Kevin Stefanski, Deshaun Watson