OTAs have become a hot topic in the NFL as more star players choose to skip them. Organized Team Activities offer early chances to take reps and practice with teammates, but they differ from mandatory minicamp sessions ahead of the season. For the Cleveland Browns, a few big names were notably missing from OTAs.
Kevin Stefanski Weighs in on OTA Absences
The Browns are in the second round of OTAs, and Myles Garrett was among the players not seen on the field. In total, about 14 Browns players did not participate, including Diontae Johnson and Greg Newsome II.
Garrett’s absence drew the most attention, especially after he signed a four-year, $81.29 million contract extension this offseason. Still, head coach Kevin Stefanski isn’t worried.
Myles Garrett, Diontae Johnson, Greg Newsome II, David Njoku among #Browns players not at OTAs, but Kevin Stefanski reminds everyone that they’re voluntary —-> https://t.co/Hj32QyMmlD
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) May 29, 2025
“It’s really important to remember that this is a voluntary program and anybody who’s here, we’re excited about that,” Stefanski said via Cleveland.com. “We’re not reporting who’s here on what day. So, there are guys that will be in and out of the program, and that is totally their prerogative. But the guys that are here will just continue to work.”
Upcoming Browns Offseason Schedule
Tuesday, May 27, marked the first round of OTAs for 20 NFL teams. The Browns will continue their OTAs on May 30, June 3-4, June 6, and June 16-19. Mandatory minicamp, however, takes place June 10-12, when the likes of Garrett, Johnson, and Newsome II are expected to be in attendance.
The NFL released each team’s offseason workout schedules. Most teams, including the Browns, hold mandatory minicamp from June 10-12. Some teams vary, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, who have theirs June 17-19, and the Eagles, who only have theirs on June 10.
In June 2024, the Browns extended Stefanski’s contract to keep him in Cleveland for the foreseeable future. So if the head coach isn’t worried about the star players missing OTAs, fans shouldn’t be either. Garrett, after all, is entering his ninth season in Cleveland and knows how to prepare for the long haul.
For someone like Diontae Johnson, who has already been on multiple teams in a short time, OTAs could have been an opportunity to get more comfortable with his new team.
Johnson spent last season with the Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, and Houston Texans. Now with the Browns on a one-year deal, it seems he either feels good about the system or knows he’ll pick it up as the summer progresses.
With mandatory minicamp right around the corner, fans can expect to see the full roster come together soon. For now, the Browns are staying patient and trusting the process.