2024-08-26 09:00:02
It only seemed like a long game … errr … night. For those brave Browns fans who endured the three-hour-plus preseason finale, there was plenty to take in.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry made a little news. The battle for the third-string quarterback still remains unclear as it increasingly appears that either Dorian Thompson-Robinson or Tyler Huntley will make the roster or, with luck, be turned into an asset.
What else was noticeable? A lot of young receivers apparently want to make the roster. Here are this week’s winners and losers.
Winners
QB Jameis Winston looked good in shaking off the rust
Jameis Winston didn’t score, but in his limited time on the field, the offense moved. In all, he connected on 6 of 9 passes for 63 yards before giving way to Dorian Thompson-Robinson. He would have been responsible for at least three points had coach Kevin Stefanski elected to go for a chip-shot field goal. Instead, the Browns elected to go for it on a fourth-and-2 at the Seahawks 12-yard line. Winston, overthrew an end zone pass to Jamari Thrash.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman solidified his case to make the roster
There were times in the first quarter when it appeared wide receiver Cedric Tillman was a receiving corps of one. Targeted five times, he caught four passes for 52 yards, taking advantage of his opportunity.
And Jamari Thrash put himself in the conversation
Thrash caught 4 of 5 targets, including a 46-yard TD strike down the middle of the field from Thompson-Robinson. If Tillman owned the first quarter as a receiver, Thrash owned the second.
Overall, young receivers took advantage of opportunities
Add Mike Woods to that list of hungry young receivers as he caught five passes for 53 yards with two scores.
Browns fans got good news from Andrew Berry
Berry dropped some hopeful news about the team’s offensive line woes during the team’s pregame show in an interview with Aditi Kinkhabwala. Decimated by injuries in the preseason, Berry said he expects the offensive line to be intact come the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Tyler Huntley cause headaches
It’s a good problem for the Browns to have — two backup QBs who could apparently make serviceable thirds. Each flashed at various points with DTR, connecting on 11 of 20 passes for 115 yards and the long scoring strike to Thrash.
As for Huntley, he directed the Browns’ other touchdown drives after he started the second half. He was 17-of-22 passing for 146 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Like I said, one will be on the roster and the other will be turned into an asset.
Losers
Cleveland Browns fans who stayed up to watch a preseason game
New rule: No West Coast preseason games that start later than 8 p.m. Eastern Time. It’s good enough for games at night on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays, right? Making this one all the more heinous is no one will know what Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will look like before the start of the regular season against the Dallas Cowboys.
Zaire Mitchell-Paden has a case of the dropsies
Two drops in the first half of passes that were imminently catchable. Not a good look in the final preseason game of the summer.
Thank goodness that wasn’t the starters on the Browns defense
The Browns defense is expected to be the strength of the team this season. But true to last season’s woes when the unit gave up a pitiful 31 points on the road, things headed south quickly and much of that came courtesy of big plays. They were even bailed out by a holding penalty on the same play on which Browns cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. was torched on a deep Seattle pass for a 73-yard touchdown.
The officials were big losers
Linebacker Winston Reid was booted on a questionable call from officials. From every angle, the boom-boom play, a hit on wide receiver Easop Winston, that got Reid sent to the showers early was not only legitimate, but it was far from malicious. It was one of the plays that sometimes is just part of the game.
Well, that had to be embarrassing for Jaelon Darden
While pedaling back to field a punt, Jaelon Darden tripped under his own feet. To be honest, it’s surprising that this doesn’t happen more often in NFL games.
