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Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Spencer Fano (55) and defensive end Jared Verse (8) participate during the team’s NFL football training camp, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Berea, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) carries as cornerback Tre Avery (11) defends during the team’s NFL football training camp, Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, in Berea, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
Cleveland Browns’ Spencer Fano shouts during an NFL football training camp, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, in Berea, Ohio.<\/p>\n
Sue Ogrocki\/AP Photo\/Sue Ogrocki<\/p>\n
BEREA, Ohio (AP) \u2014 Fights or scuffles during NFL training camps are widely discouraged and rarely benefit anyone.<\/p>\n
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Spencer Fano has become an exception.<\/p>\n
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The ninth overall pick nailed down the Cleveland Browns’ starting job at offensive left tackle after holding his own against Pro Bowl edge rusher Jared Verse on the field and in a scuffle on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Coach Todd Monken said Monday that Fano would now be lining up exclusively with the first team after splitting time between the first and second teams with Dawand Jones the first two weeks of camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were already leaning that way, and Saturday solidified it,” Monken said.<\/p>\n
Verse, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in the Myles Garrett trade, has worked with Fano throughout camp. After practice last Tuesday, Verse was talking with Fano on pass rush moves and where the rookie could redirect and use his hands.<\/p>\n
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Fano has proven to be a quick study, which might have added to Verse’s frustration during an 11-on-11 drill.<\/p>\n
Fano was playing well when lined up against Verse, but after one play, things boiled over when they scuffled after the whistle. Verse ended up ripping off Fano’s helmet and threw it to the side before both started wrestling on the ground before coaches and players broke it up.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you want to see a player, especially on the O-line, not back down? As your starting left tackle, all your hopes and dreams. The ability to move the football and protect, your left tackle to not back down against a Pro Bowler,\u201d Monken said. “You want to see the competition part; you want to see a guy not back down. If they don\u2019t stand up for themselves, then you\u2019re really concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whatever bad blood there was between the two was quickly rectified as they lined up against each other on the next snap.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIf it\u2019s all one-sided, that\u2019s a bad deal one way or the other. You don\u2019t want your left tackle dominating every edge rusher, and you sure as hell don\u2019t want him to be a leaky faucet, because it\u2019s a convoy to the quarterback,” Monken said.<\/p>\n
Fano wasn’t the only rookie who got bumped up to the first team. Second-round pick Denzel Boston lined up with the first team at the X receiver spot on Monday.<\/p>\n
The X receiver usually is considered the team’s most talented receiver because he can run more routes on the outside and boundaries, which Boston has displayed throughout camp.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s made a bunch of plays. I\u2019ve seen it, you\u2019ve seen it. I think Denzel has shown that when he\u2019s in the boundary, and you contested catches, a lot of our three-by-one stuff may go to there,” Monken said.<\/p>\n
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Jerry Jeudy, the Browns’ top receiver the past two years, will be moved around in different spots while first-round pick KC Concepcion could also line up outside or in the slot with his ability to generate yards after the catch.<\/p>\n
Monken still has not determined if Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders will start Saturday’s first preseason game at Chicago, but did say that he expects the starters on offense and defense to play at least one series.<\/p>\n
Watson and Sanders will get at least one start apiece in the preseason.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we\u2019re going to evaluate the quarterbacks, we\u2019ve got to make sure we can protect them, we\u2019ve got to play the guys up front,\u201d Monken said. “We want to evaluate the quarterbacks as best as we can, irrespective of who else is in the game. We\u2019ve got to evaluate the quarterbacks on how they\u2019re able to function and score points.\u201d<\/p>\n
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