BEREA, Ohio -- The MASH unit that is the Cleveland Browns training camp remains in operation.
Wednesday, coach Mike Pettine revealed that linebacker Barkevious Mingo had to miss practice to have a knee issue assessed. Pettine also said that receivers Terrelle Pryor and Dwayne Bowe will miss Friday night's intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio State -- something that is significant for Pryor, who needs all the live reps he can get (the coach said Pryor was very doubtful after first saying he would not participate).
Those players join a lengthy list of injured players that includes running backs Terrance West (calf) and Duke Johnson (hamstring) and defensive lineman Billy Winn.
"I know it's a part of camp, but that's something we try to prevent," Pettine said. "We really stress being proactive with it, getting the sleep the hydration, the nutrition. We evaluate how we do things all the time.
"When that number starts to get above what the norms are, then that's an area for concern and that's something as an organization that we're looking to address. Also, a lot of it comes down to the player, as well, just making sure that they're doing the right things."
Guard Joel Bitonio took a more half-full view.
"I think, right now, get the injuries out of the way," Bitonio said, "so week one we're ready to go."
Camp tidbit: Pettine keeps giving veterans a day off, but center Alex Mack has not taken one. Which is interesting because Mack is coming back from a broken ankle that cost him 11 games in 2014. General reviews on Mack's camp are positive. "I think it took him a couple games to get going, but now it's the same old Alex," Bitonio said. "He's battling out there. He's calling out all the plays. He's getting us aligned. He's getting us set up. It's going to be interesting to see how much they let him go in the preseason."
Not participating: In addition to Bowe, Pryor, Johnson, Mingo, West and Winn … RB Luke Lundy (concussion), CB Robert Nelson (knee), TE Randall Telfer (foot), CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (knee), RB Glenn Winston (knee), OL Joe Madsen (concussion) did not practice. CB K'Waun Williams was given a day of rest.
From the coach, on all the nagging injuries: "It is a source of frustration when you have limited (players) and when it starts to pile up at a position, and now you have a ripple effect that starts to effect the other guys and their repetitions and then you have to look at the overall picture of practice and cut down on reps and there are guys at other positions that need reps. Like I said, sometimes the consequences of it are frustrating." -- Pettine
Today: The team returns to the practice field at Berea for its final work before Friday's scrimmage at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. It again begins at 9:30 a.m. ET.