Tuesday’s developments
• Undrafted rookie Dominique Alexander has impressed the Browns enough to earn consistent playing time this preseason as a second-string inside linebacker. He’s also a first-string player on the punt, punt return, kickoff and kickoff return units. And he continued to assert himself as a legitimate contender to make the team during a joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the hot, humid Florida weather.
• Alexander jumped and intercepted a pass over the middle in a seven-on-seven drill. Bucs backup quarterback Mike Glennon targeted wide receiver Donteea Dye during the play. It was Alexander’s first interception since training camp started July 29.
• NFLDraftScout.com analyst Dane Brugler assigned Alexander a fourth- or fifth-round draft grade coming out of the University of Oklahoma, but none of the 32 teams picked him. Alexander believes they viewed him as an undersized, finesse linebacker. “They didn’t think I was going to hit,” he said, adding he still needs to gain weight. Being snubbed has motivated him. “It gives me a major chip on my shoulder,” Alexander said. “... I’ll always remember that, too.”
• Alexander leads the Browns with nine tackles through two exhibition games. “He has done well,” Browns coach Hue Jackson said. “He can run. I think we all know that. He has shown that he will tackle. He has been a valuable asset on special teams. He has ability. We are glad he’s here.” Added two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden: “He’s a hitter. He makes sure that he lets people know that in practice.”
• Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III and the rest of the starting offense had an impressive performance against the Bucs, except for when rookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves was giving them trouble. Hargreaves, a first-round choice, picked off Griffin in an 11-on-11 drill and again in a seven-on-seven period. “It’s unfortunate,” Jackson said. “Sometimes their defense got their hands on too many of our balls.” The Browns defense had three interceptions.
• It’s fair to say the Browns had a slight edge on the Bucs in their first practice together, but the heat dominated everyone. “I’m not going to sit here and lie and say that it didn’t because it hit me,” wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said. Jackson hopes the 90-degree-plus conditions prepare his team for a Week 3 trip to Miami. “The hotter, the better because that’s the way it is going to be,” he said.
• Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins participated in team drills for the first time since he suffered a hamstring injury on Aug. 2. He made several catches. “He is one of the leaders of this team, so he has to come out every day and compete with his guys,” Jackson said. “He is healthy. He is excited to be back out there playing, and we expect that man to make plays for us.”
• Browns rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman participated in team drills but didn’t make many plays. He also muffed a punt early in practice, sending players from both teams scrambling to recover the ball. Coleman is coming off a hamstring injury, and Pryor said the first-round pick would “be back tomorrow full go.”
• Browns nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas participated in team drills. He recently returned from a back injury.
• Patrick Murray made all four of his field-goal attempts, separating himself farther from incumbent Browns kicker Travis Coons, who made 2-of-3 tries. Meanwhile, struggling Bucs rookie kicker Roberto Aguayo made just 3-of-6 field goals. The Bucs waived Murray in May after drafting Aguayo in the second round.
• Browns rookie outside linebacker Joe Schobert was sprinkled in with the first-team defense.
Other Browns injuries: Running back Glenn Winston (illness/shoulder), cornerback Trey Caldwell (hamstring), defensive lineman Nile Lawrence-Stample (shoulder) and wide receiver Ricardo Louis (hamstring) didn’t practice.
Wednesday’s schedule: The Browns and Bucs will practice together again from 9:55 a.m.-noon.
— Nate Ulrich