A little slip in the open field wasn’t going to stop Blake Whiteheart.
The former undrafted free agent has worked too hard to establish himself as an NFL tight end and a key piece of the Browns offense and special teams. So he steadied himself and finished the 17-yard touchdown catch and run that proved to be the winner Sunday in the 23-19 victory over the Buccaneers.
While much of the action flowed right, Whiteheart went left at the line of scrimmage, wasn’t covered and caught the short throw.
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“It was good. We kind of set that up,” quarterback Deshaun Watson told reporters after the game. “My stomach kind of dropped a little bit when he slipped. Thought he was about to fall, but that was something that we’ve been working on and he did a good job of getting released in the backside and the O-line did a good job of protecting that backside and just get the ball to him and let him do the rest and we got a touchdown.”
It was Whiteheart’s second touchdown. The first came Sept. 29, 2024, in a loss to the Raiders.
He was undrafted out of Wake Forest in 2023, spent time with the Cardinals on the practice squad and active roster, then joined Cleveland’s practice squad after the 2024 preseason. He bounced back and forth to the active roster, appearing in 11 games with two starts.
He made the roster a year ago, appearing in all 17 games with four starts behind rookie Harold Fannin Jr. and veteran mainstay David Njoku. He played 23 percent of the offensive snaps, primarily as a blocker, catching two passes for 4 yards.
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He already has two catches on three targets, for 31 yards and a TD, in two games this year. He played 20 of 51 snaps on offense vs. the Jaguars and 27 of 58 vs. the Bucs, adding 12 and 15 special teams snaps.
His coach and teammates were thrilled for him to get the touchdown.
“I was really excited because nobody knows all the hard work Blake put in,” Fannin said. “Blake’s not talked about enough. To actually see him go out there and score with the game on the line, I love to see it.”
“I’m just happy for him,” coach Todd Monken said. “You talk about a guy that just works, that’s all he does. He’s one of our hardest workers. He reminds me a lot of Brock Bowers, in terms of his work, and those guys are in a rare category. He’ll go all day and he won’t want to come out. Those are rare guys.
“And that’s why he’s a Brown, that’s why he’s been here, it’s why he’s made it in the NFL. He’s been diligent with his blocking, he’s been diligent in getting better with his route running.”
With Njoku leaving in free agency, Whiteheart nailed down the No. 2 tight end role behind Fannin during the preseason.
“It’s been a grind,” Whiteheart told The Chronicle-Telegram before the opener. “So I could tell Todd (Monken) has definitely changed the environment here with practice and just how we go about our business and the accountability that we have. And I feel like that’s just really helped me elevate my game.”
He didn’t enter training camp as the certain No. 2, but free agent pickup Jack Stoll got hurt and was waived, rookie Joe Royer remains absent due to a personal reason and Whiteheart continued to make plays.
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“I’m very grateful that they’ve increased my role and they see that opportunity,” he said. “And then just having the confidence that I can be that guy for them and that I’m a good player and that I deserve to be in this league and having all the confidence in the world that I can compete at the highest level and block anyone they put in front of me and win against anyone, any DB or linebacker, they put in front of me.
“I just want to help the team win. So whatever role they’re willing to give me, that’s what I’m going to embrace 100 percent.”
Whiteheart earned praise last season from then-coach Kevin Stefanski for a couple of all-out-effort plays in which he chased down opposing players as they tried to reach the end zone. The more time he’s spent with the Browns and the more opportunities he’s received, the more comfortable he’s gotten.
“I feel like coming in as an undrafted guy, you always have that chip on your shoulder,” he said. “But at the same time, this is the league and I feel like what you put on tape matters and that’s how you prove yourself. And so I’ve always had that confidence, but everyone always has that doubt in their abilities, if they belong here and stuff. And I feel like this year I just wanted to come in with a different mindset of why not me, why not, why can’t I? And just try and take it as far as I can go and just really embrace the day-to-day process and seeing myself do good things on tape and I can do it.
“And so believing that and embracing that and coming with the attitude that you can be one of the best players on the team and you can contribute in a major way on special teams, in the offense and that people have faith and trust in you and you need to trust in yourself. So I feel like that’s something you just develop with age as you’re in the league and just maturing as a player and as a person. So I’ve had confidence, but it ebbs and flows just like life. But I feel like that’s what I’m really trying to lean into right now.”
Whiteheart was in better position to make the jump after shoulder surgery following last season. His labrum was “cleaned up,” he recovered quickly and declared himself 100 percent.
“Having a full arm to actually block and catch and not be restricted, I feel like that’s been a super big help in the way that I’ve progressed this offseason,” he said. “And it gave me a lot more confidence with every movement, blocking, catching the ball, route running.”
He played every game last year with the nagging injury but wore a brace that limited him.
“It’s just very restrictive and makes you think a lot about your pain and everything,” he said. “So having that freedom to completely have my mind focused on my assignments and the things in front of me for the day has been really, really helpful too.”
