CANTON, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Making their first appearance in the Hall of Fame Game since the 1999 expansion season, the Browns paid tribute to that squad by sitting most of their starters Thursday night.
The game included a power outage on the south light towers as the third quarter came to an end that led to a 17-minute delay and after the game the showers did not work for the Jets.
Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson engineered a pair of second half touchdown drives to lead the Browns to a 21-16 come-from-behind win over the Jets in the Hall of Fame Game.
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Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick earlier this year, brought some juice in the second half. He delivered a key block on Demetric Felton’s 16-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Thompson-Robinson capped a second TD drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Austin Watkins for a 21-16 lead with 9:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. “It was in one of Kellen’s first two drives where he had got the same play, same look, and I was obviously paying attention the whole time in the first half trying to get clues on their defense and signals and everything like that,” Thompson-Robinson said. “So we had actually got the same look on my play. I figured if I could move the safety in the linebacker over a little bit did I got a chance backside and that just so happened to work out.” The light delay didn’t phase the rookie. In fact, it took him back to his days with the Bruins. “At UCLA they turned the lights off and we do a light show at the start of the fourth quarter and it was the start of the fourth quarter so I thought that’s what was going on,” Thompson-Robinson said. “And they said that the lights were out, so I was just praying and trying to stay warm on the sideline, hoping they don't cancel the game or anything. But luckily we finished it out and it ended the way it ended.”
Watkins had already caught head coach Kevin Stefanski’s attention and the TD Thursday night was another notch in his belt. “I've been really impressed with Watkins,” Stefanski said. “I think he does a nice job. He’s kind of come in seamlessly. He missed a lot of time. It’s not like he was here all spring, so he’s caught up to what we’re doing and what we’re about and gives some really good reps.”
Kellen Mond completed 13 of 19 passes for 92 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the first half. “I felt pretty loose,” Mond said. “Pretty simple game plan for the most part. Just wanted to come out early, find completions and hit Cedric on a deep route. That felt pretty good in the play action game and weren’t able to convert. And then we ended up missing the field goal. But I mean, for the most part it felt really good.” Mond was looking for Cedric Tillman but was intercepted by Jets linebacker Chazz Surratt, who returned it 13 yards to the Cleveland 27. A few plays later, Israel Abanikanda ran it in from 10 yards out for a 13-0 Jets lead with 9:04 left in the first half.
Running back John Kelly Jr. ran for 42 yards on 10 carries in the first half and hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the Jets lead to 13-7 with 31 seconds remaining in the half to cap a 17-play, 71-yard drive. “Did what he does when he gets opportunities both in games and in practice,” Stefanski said. “I thought he ran hard. I think the ball went where it was supposed to go, mostly from the vantage point I had played really hard, so he did a nice job.” Felton took over in the second half and ran it in from 16 yards out to cap a 11-play, 93-yard drive with 6:11 left in the third quarter to cut the Jets lead to 16-14. “That touchdown was really was all Demetric,” Stefanski said. “I mean he made some very impressive plays there with people around him and around his feet and just extra effort. So he had a good night, obviously returned all those punts, so was quite productive.” Felton also handled five punt returns for 10 yards. “It felt good being able to get those many reps,” Felton said. “I haven’t been able to in a while, and like you said, getting back to that rhythm. It just felt really good.”
Rookie receiver Cedric Tillman hauled in a 15-yard completion on the opening drive. He finished with two catches for 35 yards in the first half. “I think he's extremely talented and obviously he was drafted in that position for a reason, but his body control, his size and his strength is, even for a rookie, it’s going to be really good for us and it’s going to be an asset for us on the offensive side,” Mond said.
Fourth round pick Dawand Jones, who played a full game at right tackle, was called for holding twice, but held up. “Well, he played the entire game, so he should be tired, although he was just dancing in the locker room, so I don’t know how tired he is,” Stefanski said. “But yeah, again, first reps out there for the kid. He’s played in big games as we all know. So he will just continue to get better.” Jones credited his improved conditioning. “It’s improved a lot,” Jones said. “I just went out there and played a whole game so I definitely probably wouldn’t have done that at the beginning of minicamp. Just doing the same thing over and over again, it definitely helped a lot.”
Receiver Anthony Schwartz did little to help himself by fumbling on an end around late in the first quarter after linebacker Jamien Sherwood stripped the ball for cornerback Javelin Guidry to recover at the 31. The turnover led to a second Zuerlein field goal – 44 yards to make it 6-0 with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.
Tommy Togiai broke up a pass in the first quarter. Cornerback Cameron Mitchell broke up a pass on fourth-and-3 late in the third quarter to turn the Jets back.
Cleveland held the Jets to 2-12 on third down while the Browns converted 7-13 on third down.
It was not a great night for Bubba Ventrone’s special teams unit. Kicker Cade York missed wide right on a 49-yard field goal at the end of the Browns’ opening drive. A blown kickoff coverage allowed the Jets to position themselves for a third Zuerlein field goal, this one from 53 at the gun, for a 16-7 halftime lead. A holding penalty on a punt moved the ball from the 34 to the 7 wiping out a 20-yard return by Demetric Felton. With 2:18 remaining, Jets punt returner Alex Erickson returned a punt 36 yards to the 45 after a 54-yard punt from Joseph Charlton. “Maybe haven’t had the amount of reps that you’d love to have at these coverage phases,” Stefanski said. “That’s why this game was so important to get those reps. So having said that, it’s not going to be perfect. There’s guys doing things for the first time that they will learn from, but got to look at it and then watch it as a group and make some corrections.”
Injury report – Receiver Daylen Baldwin suffered a hamstring injury and was ruled out late in the second quarter. Cornerback Thomas Graham suffered an ankle injury and did not return in the second half.
Night off – The following players were listed as “Will not play” 90 minutes prior to kickoff: CB Greg Newsome II, S Juan Thornhill, WR Amari Cooper, QB Deshaun Watson, LB Anthony Walker Jr., LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, WR Elijah Moore, WR Jakeem Grant Sr., WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR Mike Woods II, QB Joshua Dobbs, WR Jaelon Darden, WR Marquise Goodwin, CB Denzel Ward, S Grant Delpit, CB Martin Emerson Jr., RB Nick Chubb, S Rodney McLeod, CB Mike Ford Jr., RB Jerome Ford, LB Matthew Adams, LB Sione Takitaki, LB Jacob Phillips, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, C Ethan Pocic, T Jedrick Wills Jr., G Joel Bitonio, G Wyatt Teller, T Jack Conklin, T Tyrone Wheatley Jr., TE Jordan Akins, TE David Njoku, TE Harrison Bryant, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DE Myles Garrett, DT Trysten Hill, and DE Za’Darius Smith.