Juan Thornhill is aware of greater than most that it’s arduous to stay down one second in your life, particularly on tv. Regardless of a profitable profession in Kansas Metropolis, he discovered that second final 12 months in Cleveland. Already struggling by damage, he let fatigue set in on a play that earned him the nickname “Jog Thornhill.”
That second got here in Week 11 through the 2024 season, when the Browns had been in New Orleans. On third and 1, Derek Carr threw behind Juan Thornhill protecting Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who raced to the top zone for a 71-yard landing. Thornhill, nonetheless, didn’t race, however moderately jog, in pursuit.
That second went viral, not less than in Cleveland circles, and he by no means lived it down.
“It did trouble me, if I’m being utterly sincere with you,” Thornhill mentioned not too long ago by way of Pittsburgh’s DSEN. “The explanation why is as a result of that’s not me as a participant. They usually noticed that one clip of me and so they put that as a title on me as a participant that doesn’t play arduous for his workforce. However yeah, it was one clip.”
Thornhill had already missed a block of 5 video games earlier that season because of a Grade 2 calf pressure. The Saints sport marked his fifth sport again, however he was now not taking part in starter snaps. And he did rebound the next week, making performs in a win towards the Steelers. After that sport, he admitted that he didn’t give full effort on the play, however insisted that’s not him.
“I used to be exhausted. I imply, gamers get drained,” Thornhill informed Steelers media this previous week. “If you happen to play a protracted collection and also you’re consistently operating on a regular basis, you’re gonna get drained. And it obtained caught on digital camera and it seemed like I used to be jogging. I wasn’t attempting to jog. I used to be attempting to run.”
It’s arduous to stay down as soon as it’s on the market.
Now, for what it’s price, that was the third play of the drive in query, and the Saints’ earlier drive lasted only one play, leading to an interception by Denzel Ward. New Orleans did have a 12-play drive simply earlier than that, although, and the Browns’ possessions in between had been brief. Even permitting himself some grace, although, Thornhill understands his failure on that play. He simply desires folks to know he’s multiple play.
“When folks began calling me Jog Thornhill and all the pieces, I simply ignore that,” he mentioned. “If you happen to go watch, I make lots of performs.
“I’m at all times gonna play arduous. I do no matter’s greatest for the workforce,” he added.
Juan Thornhill spent his first 4 seasons in Kansas Metropolis as a second-round decide. He began 52 of 65 video games, registering 234 tackles with eight interceptions. The Browns signed him to a three-year, $21 million contract in 2023, together with $14 million assured.
However they noticed sufficient after two disappointing seasons tormented by damage. In his two seasons with the Browns, Thornhill missed 12 video games mixed. That’s why the Steelers had been capable of signal him for simply $3 million this offseason. And whereas he gained’t are available in as a starter, he desires to show he’s price way more than that. And perhaps he has a bit of one thing to show to the Browns twice a 12 months, too.
