As the Browns prepare for the 2019 season by learning a new offense under coach Freddie Kitchens and offensive coordinator Todd Monken during voluntary organized team activities, star wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry have been missing.
The most notable absence comes from Beckham, who has participated in only one day of Cleveland's nine OTAs. He also skipped the team's voluntary three-day minicamp.
When asked about Beckham, Kitchens kept it brief as he told reporters: "I just want to see him." He also said Beckham has missed "a lot" when it comes to learning the offense.
Earlier this month, Kitchens explained he sees no problem with Beckham sitting out the OTAs.
"I'd rather him be here. He's not here. It's voluntary," Kitchens said (via CBS Sports). "That's what the word voluntary means. He can decide to come or he can't.
"But under no circumstance am I going to say that I'm pissed off at Odell for not being here. He'll be ready to play and ultimately that's the only thing I want, for him to be ready to play when we start kicking off in September and he will be — I promise you."
#Browns Freddie Kitchens said he looks forward to having the whole team in camp next week; also talks of Baker Mayfield and his improvement pic.twitter.com/n9EDzBckRK
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham) May 30, 2019
Beckham's teammates, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, aren't concerned about the receiver's decision to sit out. Mayfield pointed to the fact that Beckham knows what works best for him at this point of his career, which is why he's reached 5,476 receiving yards and 44 touchdowns in five seasons.
"You let a guy like that be him," Mayfield said. "Everybody has their routine. Stick to what is working, and for him, obviously, it's been working for a while. He's going to do what he's going to do. You have to trust that he is going to be there when it matters, and we know who he is."
Landry, on the other hand, has been sidelined due to a minor injury and is expected to take time off during the team's mandatory minicamp. He likely won't practice again until training camp begins at the end of July, according to Cleveland.com. It's not clear what Landry's injury is, but Kitchens said surgery isn't required.
“It is just more precautionary than anything," Kitchens said.