BEREA, Ohio — The Browns returned to practice Thursday without defensive end Chris Smith, but with him on all of their minds.

Smith’s girlfriend, Petara Cordero, was killed on Interstate 90 in Cleveland early Wednesday morning, after the couple had pulled over on the side of the road following a tire malfunction on Smith’s car. Cordero, 26, was struck by an oncoming car, the driver of which admitted to have been drinking, according to a police report. Police said Smith was not impaired.

Cordero had just given birth to the couple’s daughter, Haven Harris Smith, in August.

Browns coach Freddie Kitchens visited Smith at his home Wednesday then broke the news to the team later that day.

“We’re going to support Chris,” Kitchens said Thursday. “Chris is on my mind right now. His family’s on my mind. Her family’s on my mind. The 4-week-old baby is on my mind. So it’s a difficult time, but we’re going to get through it. I promise you that. But we’re going to get through it together, and Chris is included in that, his family’s included in that.”

Smith is a popular presence in the Browns locker room in his second year on the team, with Kitchens citing his “infectious” personality and smile. His teammates were hurting for Smith, but they offered their support however they could help.

“I know this, when you go through bad things in life, you want people around you that care about you and that care about you for the right reasons,” Kitchens said. “That has nothing to do with playing a five-technique. It has nothing to do with taking on a tight end.”

Kitchens said he had “not given one thought” to whether Smith would be available to play Monday against the Jets and didn’t want Smith to think about that, either. Smith played nine snaps in Sunday’s loss to the Titans.

“That was a punch in the gut,” left guard Joel Bitonio said. “We know words cannot really help him, so we are trying to build him up as much as possible.”

The Browns found out Sam Darnold (mono) was ruled out for Monday night right before they practiced Thursday, so they had not yet seen much tape on Trevor Siemian. But they said their preparation would remain the same.

“I know he makes NFL throws,” Kitchens said. “Trevor can play.”

Baker Mayfield made his NFL debut last year squaring off against Darnold, but the sequel between 2018 first-round picks will have to wait.

“Unfortunate news for Sam,” Mayfield said. “I hope he gets healthy quickly. I’ve never had [mono], knock on wood.”