CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Browns wrapped up the preseason in Kansas City Saturday with a 33-32 loss to the Chiefs.
The game against the Chiefs was one last chance for bubble players to make their case to make the initial 53-man roster, which will be set Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Here’s a look at our top Brownie Bites from an eventful afternoon.
The kicking situation is a mess. Cade York’s potential game winner was deflected and sailed wide left with less than a minute to play further muddying the 2022 fourth round pick’s position with the team. York’s first PAT attempt was a wobbly ball wide left and York went down because Jaylen Watson of the Chiefs slid into his leg on the follow through. York returned to make his next three PATs as well as a 40-yard field goal with 4:19 remaining to give the Browns a 32-30 lead. But two missed chances to win preseason games can not be good for job security.
The first offensive series ended on a botched exchange between Deshaun Watson and running back Jordan Wilkins that led to a fumble that the Chiefs recovered at the Cleveland 42. Wilkins fumbled another hand off on the second series that ended in a 3-and-out after Watson’s pass to Elijah Moore on third down was low and fell incomplete. It’s very possible the No. 3 running back is not even on the roster as Kelly and Demetric Felton did little to distinguish themselves this preseason.
Watson, who finished the day 5-10 for 92 yards and a touchdown, cashed in the third series on a short field by throwing a beautiful fade to tight end David Njoku for a touchdown and a 15-3 lead. Watson’s biggest completion went to Amari Cooper for 50 yards.
Defensively, defensive tackle Shelby Harris pressured the quarterback to force an incompletion. Rodney McLeod came away with an interception to set the Browns offense up at the Kansas City 16 with a 14-yard return. On the third series, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah registered a pass breakup. Safety Juan Thornhill welcomed himself back to Kansas City with a pick-6 that saw him jump the route to grab the ball and return it 34 yards for a touchdown. Caleb Biggers grabbed his own pick-6 with 28 seconds left in the first half for a 29-16 lead at intermission. Biggers would be flagged twice for pass interference in the second half that extended Chiefs drives.
Thursday afternoon rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson was handed the backup quarterback job after the Browns traded Joshua Dobbs to Arizona. The fifth-round pick completed 7 of 12 passes for 92 yards before giving way to Kellen Mond, who will likely be waived then moved to the practice squad, late in the third quarter.
Receiver/Returner Jakeem Grant, who had recovered from a ruptured Achilles that ended his 2022 season, suffered what appeared to be a significant injury to his right knee while returning the opening kickoff 23 yards to the 18. Grant was down for several minutes while trainers tended to him before being crated off with an air cast on his leg.
Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was shaken up with 9:30 left in the first quarter and was ruled out with a knee injury.
Roll call – DE Myles Garrett, RB Nick Chubb and LG Joel Bitonio did not play. Prior to the game the team announced that WR Anthony Schwartz, WR Mike Woods II, WR Jaelon Darden, WR Marquise Goodwin, CB Mike Ford Jr., CB Cameron Mitchell, RB Jerome Ford, DE Isaiah Thomas, G Wes Martin, G Drew Forbes, TE Harrison Bryant and DE Alex Wright were listed as not expected to play before kickoff.
