In Berea, Ohio, Denzel Ward, the Cleveland Browns’ three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, has resumed practice after sustaining his fifth documented concussion in the NFL. While he remains in the concussion protocol, Ward has progressed to the final stage, being granted clearance to return to the field. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that Ward is doing well and meeting necessary benchmarks in his recovery.

Ward suffered his recent concussion on August 12 during a play against wide receiver Elijah Moore, where he hit the back of his head on the ground. At the time, he was wearing a Guardian cap, a soft-shell helmet cover mandated by the league. Despite his remarkable career as a top cover cornerback since being drafted in 2018, Ward’s history of concussions raises concerns.

The Browns are hopeful that Ward will be prepared to face the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener on September 8. He is likely to match up against Cowboys’ standout receiver CeeDee Lamb, who recently secured a significant contract extension. Throughout his six seasons, Ward has accumulated 15 interceptions, two of which resulted in touchdowns, despite encountering concussions early in his career.

Teammates like defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson expressed relief at seeing Ward back on the field, stressing the importance of player safety in light of the league’s heightened emphasis on player health. Tomlinson highlighted the advancements in helmet technology and safety protocols as critical measures to protect players in the physically demanding sport.

While Ward returned to practice, the Browns continue to be without their starting offensive tackles. Right tackle Jack Conklin, who returned to practice on Tuesday after a knee injury last season, was not present during the media-accessible portion of practice. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. also remains sidelined as he recovers from a knee injury, despite being activated from the injured list earlier in the week. The team is proceeding cautiously with Conklin, gradually increasing his workload in practice sessions.