D'Ernest Johnson's lost fumble on the Browns' fourth play from scrimmage was one of many miscues the offense suffered early on.
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.JACKSONVILLE, FL
Instant takeaways from Browns’ 24-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars …1. Inauspicious debut: Deshaun Watson, who expressed
remorse before the game about the conduct that will lead to an NFL suspension, looked like he hadn’t played in, say, 19 months. In three series, Watson directed the offense to 7 yards in eight plays. He was 1-for-5 for 7 yards, for a 39.6 passer rating. It wasn’t all his fault, though his accuracy was shaky. Watson began the game with five offensive starters -- three offensive linemen, receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones and tight end David Njoku. On the first play, he overthrew wide-open Anthony Schwartz on a crossing pattern. On the second play, center Nick Harris suffered an injury to his right knee and was carted off. On the fifth play, running back D’Ernest Johnson lost a fumble. Schwartz dropped two passes. The substitute offensive line committed two penalties (one declined), and Peoples-Jones added a holding call. One other thing: The sparse crowd at TIAA Bank Field booed Watson before every snap.
2. Mr. Dobbs: With future starter Jacoby Brissett given the night off, quarterback Josh Dobbs relieved Watson and had a good showing. Dobbs put up two field goals and a touchdown in four series of work. He calmed things down after the mistake-ridden mess he inherited beginning with the Browns’ fourth possession. Dobbs threw well on the run and avoided pressure with his legs. He benefitted from going against Jacksonville’s reserves on defense, but Dobbs made the most out of his own team’s offensive backups. Dobbs’ best play came from the Jaguars’ 14 on a scramble to his left and a touch pass lofted to running back Jerome Ford for the touchdown. Overall, Dobbs was 10 of 13 for 108 yards and a rating of 126.4. Josh Rosen played the final two series at quarterback.
3. Oh, no: One of the major reasons the Browns released veteran center JC Tretter was because of their belief in the athletic, if inexperienced, Harris. Well, the Browns might have to give Tretter a call to come back. Harris’ knee injury was bad enough to have him carted off. He was replaced by veteran backup Ethan Pocic. Tretter, 31, has not been picked up by any team since the Browns released him on March 15. Two other Browns O-line starters took the night off, so Watson’s front line of protection his first two series consisted of Jed Wills at left tackle, Blake Hance at left guard, Pocic at center, Wyatt Teller at right guard and James Hudson at right tackle. Michael Dunn replaced Teller on Watson’s third series and committed a false start.
4. A Ford in their future: Everything Ford does this preseason has to be put in the context of Kareem Hunt’s trade request. The rookie fifth-round pick got off to a great start with two touchdowns – one on that leaping, juggling catch of Dobbs' touch pass – and looked like the best offensive player on the field. Ford also had chunk runs of 41 and 15 yards. He totaled 57 yards rushing on 10 attempts. His 3-yard TD run was an inside run from the shotgun formation. Ford also had 46 receiving yards on four catches, though he lost a fumble on the last one.
5. Take a bow: It was a pretty good night for other Browns rookie draft picks. Cornerback M.J. Emerson had 3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and then scored on a 74-yard interception return after wrestling the ball away from receiver Jeff Cotton on a short pass. Kicker Cade York was 3 for 3 on PATs, added a 31-yard field goal, and had two touchbacks on a kickoffs. Rookie defensive end Isaiah Thomas had two sacks.
6. More bows: The Jaguars had 37 plays in the first half, to the Browns’ 20. So it seemed like the press box announcer spent a lot of time calling the names of linebacker Dakota Allen (five tackles, one for a loss), safety D’Anthony Bell (one TFL), and defensive tackle Tommy Togiai (four tackles). End Isaac Rochell had a sack of C.J. Beathard, who relieved starter Trevor Lawrence (6 of 12, 95 yards, 1 TD) in the second quarter. Bell also forced a fumble in the second half by slashing the ball out of the hands of former Ohio State tight end Luke Farrell.
7. First up: With return specialist Jakeem Grant (Achilles) out for the year, receiver Ja’Marcus Bradley was first up to audition to replace him. Bradley had two kickoff returns for 31 yards and two punt returns for 5 yards.
8. Defensive looks: The substitutes for resting starters on defense on the first two series were Alex Wright and Rochell at ends and Greedy Williams and Emerson at outside cornerback. The Browns began in a nickel defensive alignment with A.J. Green as the slot cornerback.
9. Innocent bystanders: Among the healthy veteran players who got the night off were receiver Amari Cooper, linebacker Anthony Walker, quarterback Jacoby Brissett, cornerback Greg Newsome, running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt, safety John Johnson, guard Joel Bitonio, right tackle Jack Conklin, and defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett.
