How Jeudy's patience paid off in Browns' win over Ravens

CLEVELAND, Ohio — When Todd Monken replaced Jerry Jeudy as the Browns’ starting X receiver with second-round pick Denzel Boston during training camp, Jeudy never complained or took his foot off the gas. He kept doing what he always does, worked hard on his hands and his route-running, and waited for his opportunity. Those chances have come over the past three weeks, and the Browns probably wouldn’t be 4-2 and in first place in the AFC North without him. During the Browns 27-24 victory over the Steelers on Oct. 1, Jeudy made two of the biggest plays of the game on the game-winning field goal drive, a 17-yard catch over the middle on the first play and then a 10-yarder between the hashes to the Pittsburgh 40. A few plays later, Andre Szmyt kicked the 56-yard game winner with 10 seconds remaining.Browns vs. Ravens reaction, Guardians look to stay alive in ALCS: Monday’s Sports 4 CLEHow Carson Schwesinger, Denzel Ward, and the rest of the Browns defense graded vs. the RavensHow Deshaun Watson, Jerry Jeudy, and the rest of the Browns offense graded vs. the RavensOn Sunday, Jeudy again made two of the biggest catches of the game, including the 33-yarder on an in-cut on the game-winning drive. The catch came with about 20 yards of valuable run-after-catch, moving the ball to the Ravens’ 29. Three plays later, Szmyt kicked the 37-yard game-winner as time expired for the 13-10 victory. After the game, Monken awarded Jeudy a game ball, telling the team in the locker room, “we’re better off when Jerry’s in a good place, and when we’re utilizing him, we’re better.”In his postgame press conference, Monken stopped for a moment to choose his words carefully when asked about Jeudy, whom he now seems to believe has more to offer. Called upon in the game’s biggest moments, he caught 4 of 4 targets for a game-high 69 yards, including a clutch 13-yarder over the middle on what could’ve been the game-winning field goal drive had Szmyt not pushed the 48 yarder wide left. “I gave him a game ball and he deserves it,” Monken said. “We’re better on offense when Jerry’s a part of it, and I can certainly do a better job of incorporating him in it. And you can see a difference in his juice in practice and on the field. That credit goes to him, and his decision to say, ‘all right, this is where it’s at. I’m going all in.’”By that phrase, Monken meant Jeudy’s decision to embrace a reduced role behind Boston and first-round pick KC Concepcion in the first six games of the season. Even against the Ravens, Boston played 58 snaps for 92% and Concepcion played 51 for 81%. Jeudy played 39 for 62%, and that was his third-highest total of the season. Against the Steelers, he played 37.5%.“As a man, he said, ‘I’m going to battle and I’m going to fight, and I want to be a part of this team, and I want to help make plays,’” Monken said. “It builds confidence for us to continue to play him, and he made a bunch of plays. He’s working every day catching the ball. You can see a difference in that. And like I said, we’re better on offense when we’re able to utilize Jerry and what he can bring in terms of his explosiveness.”Judging by his broad smile when Monken tossed him the game ball, Jeudy genuinely appreciated it. “It means a lot, being able to help my team, do whatever I can,” Jeudy said. “Getting a game ball means a lot. So I’m thankful for it.”He acknowledged that it’s been difficult not to be able to help more, especially with the passing game struggling until the fourth quarter in most games. He’s been such an afterthought that there’s been widespread speculation the Browns might trade him by the Nov. 10 deadline -- even though they have no plans of doing so. “It’s pretty difficult as a receiver, wanting to be out there competing, being involved in the game plan, wanting to go out there and make plays,” he said. “But you can’t let that discourage you. You’ve got to stay focused and wait your turn week by week and eventually once your number’s called, make a play. That’s what I do.”It’s been especially difficult for Jeudy considering he was a Pro Bowler and 1,000-yard receiver in 2024, and that he spent the offseason working out in Miami with Watson, honing their timing and communication. It’s one of the reasons they were able to connect so well on the 33-yarder, having repped such plays over and over, and discussing them on the sidelines.Ravens defensive head coach Jesse Minter disguised coverages and blitzes all game, and Watson, Jeudy and Harold Fannin Jr. discussed it and knew the middle of the field would be open on the play after trying it earlier in the game. “It was a late check for me,” Watson said of the 33-yarder. “I thought they were doing one thing and then they disguised it. So I wanted an in-cut to the field and I checked it and wanted to confirm the coverage down the middle. “14 (Kyle Hamilton) ran with the middle route (Fannin) and then Jerry did a good job getting his depth and I put it on time and he caught it and got the extra yards and put us in position to win. So it was a full task. Everyone was on the same page and that’s what we talked about and adjusted on the sideline.”Jeudy’s two big catches for 46 yards in the fourth quarter also put him over 5,000 yards for his seven-year career, a bonus to the monumental victory. He now has 363 receptions for 5,034 yards and 17 TDs. “Once my number’s called, I just want to take advantage of each and every opportunity, so Coach called my number and Deshaun delivered me a great ball,” he said. “I had to make a play to finish and help my team win.”In staying ready and maintaining a great attitude, Jeudy has embodied the spirit of what Monken is trying to build here. It’s a roster full of team-first players who want to win and try to eliminate anything that gets in the way of that. They play hurt, like Carson Schwesinger did on Sunday, and they fight like crazy to get back even if their bodies won’t cooperate like Mason Graham and Quinshon Judkins did last week. They fight for each other, and have become like brothers. And even when they’re demoted, right or wrong, they wait for the chance to prove they can do more to help the team. Jeudy has done just that, and has played a key role in each of the last two fourth-quarter comebacks. He got a game ball for his efforts, and undoubtedly more chances going forward.