BEREA — The Browns and Minnesota Vikings were supposed to provide a matchup between Cleveland's Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward and Vikings Pro Bowl wide receiver Justin Jefferson . That was before Ward went into the concussion protocol because of a play that happened before the Vikings even arrived.
What the two joint practice did bring everyone was two days of Jefferson and Browns third-year cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. trading plays and trash talk. As for if a potential Ward-Jefferson matchup would've matched it, one can only venture a guess.
The Emerson-Jefferson matchup, though, more than made up for the loss. Even one of the combatants couldn't help but enjoy it, even if he wouldn't declare a winner, at least publicly.
"Oh, yeah, I'm going to let everybody else figure out," Jefferson said with a smirk after Thursday's practice . "But, I mean, that's not really the main focus of these joint practices. It's just getting this work in trying to get the chemistry down with [Vikings quarterback] Sam [Darnold] and the rest of the quarterbacks and just getting those one-on-one battles. We don't get those one-on-one battles too often. Our defense don't play man to man all the time. So to get that man-on-man coverage and getting those one-on-one reps, it helps."
Emerson wasn't locked on Jefferson the entire two days the Vikings were in town. There were times when it ended up being Kahlef Hailassie or even rookie Myles Harden.
The matchup happened more than enough, beyond just one-on-one drills, that it became one of the premier sideshows of the practices. The only topper may have been the interactions between Vikings wide receiver Trishton Jackson and and family member or friend of Browns cornerback Justin Hardee Sr.
"M.J.’s really grown as a player over his time here," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said after Thursday's practice. "You see him taking steps each and every week he’s out here. So, to go up against a great premier guy in this league, to match up against him a ton, I think can only make him better.”
The culmination of the two days came in the final period, a two-minute drill during which each team started at the other's 45. After the Vikings picked up 10 yards on the first play, Darnold tried to find Jefferson three consecutive times, and all three were broken up.
Emerson got his hands on the first one, and he combined with Harden for the third. Hailassie, who also ended the Minnesota first-unit possession with an interception, was the one to get middle break-up on Jefferson.
"Yeah, it's just competing," Jefferson said. "I mean, with a defense like they have on their side of the ball, it's great work going up against them during these joint practices. I won't be playing in the game. So taking that time out here and really get into it with a one on one, seven on seven and red-zone period, it is definitely some great work."
Jefferson's status in the NFL has been long established, from virtually the first day he stepped into the league as a first-round pick in 2020 out of LSU. He's already just a yard shy of 5,900 career receiving yards, and signed a record four-year, $140 million contract in the offseason.
Emerson, who's entering his third season after being a 2022 third-round pick out of Mississippi State, has seen his star rise since last season, often being called one of the best press corners in the league. It's an opinion shared by one of the best wide receivers in the league.
"Oh, for sure," Jefferson said. "He's a long, physical corner and he's definitely going to cause some problems out there on the field. So it's great to go up against corners like that to give me an extra work or just put a extra little boost in my play style."
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: Martin Emerson Jr. earns praise from Vikings star Justin Jefferson after joint practices
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