Deshaun Watson’s encouraging preseason debut spoiled by Elijah Moore rib injury and another Cade York miss in 17-15 loss
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Instant takeaways from Browns' 17-15 loss to the Washington Commanders …1. Soggy, soggy night: Deshaun Watson’s preseason debut went off as planned despite a weather delay of 1 hour, 10 minutes. He moved the ball 67 yards in 12 plays in what can be considered a successful stint on a rain-soaked field and a titillating sample of what’s in store offensively. The drive ended in no points, however, and receiver Elijah Moore walked to the locker room with a rib injury (X-rays were negative). Also, kicker Cade York missed his second field goal of the preseason, from 46 yards, and ex-Browns Good Guy Award-winner Jacoby Brissett put up 10 points in relief in a 17-15 loss to the Washington Commanders. QB4 Kellen Mond made it close at the end with a 20-yard TD toss to Mike Harley, but the 2-point try failed on a Mond incompletion.
2. Finally: Undaunted by the delay, coach Kevin Stefanski wasn’t shy in exercising snippets of his revamped offense. Watson ably moved the ball, completing 3 of 3 passes for 12 yards and running three times for 20 yards with running back Nick Chubb, wide receiver Amari Cooper and left guard Joel Bitonio watching from the sideline.
3. Diversity: The first play saw Moore lined up in the backfield alone, and then motion into a pass pattern. Watson hit him for a 6-yard gain. Moore also ran 18 yards with a handoff. Stefanski had a different offensive grouping on every play. Besides the pass to Moore, Watson completed throws of 5 yards to tight end Jordan Akins and 1 yard to tight end David Njoku. Despite a wet field, Watson ran freely – twice to escape pressure and once on a designed zone read run. Running back Demetric Felton had runs of 10, 5 and 6 yards down to the Washington 1. And that’s where the drive hit a brick wall. Felton was stopped for no gain on third down. Instead of kicking a chip-shot field goal, Stefanski went for it on fourth down (here we go again) and John Kelly was tackled for a 4-yard loss. After the series, Moore walked into the locker room with a trainer to have X-rays on his ribs. The Browns said they were negative.
Deshaun Watson wasn't shy about running the ball 3 times in 12 plays. (Cleveland Browns)
6. Sam, I am: Howell looked pretty good on a 10-play, 80-yard TD drive beginning the second quarter. Cornerback Martin Emerson thought he had a Pick 6 when he pulled the ball from Cole Turner after a short catch and ran it 50 yards to the end zone. But Turner was correctly ruled down before the turnover. Howell made a nice throw for 13 yards to convert a fourth-and-3, and then connected with Jahan Dotson for a 26-yard TD on the next play. The Browns had backups playing in their secondary by then.
7. Jacoby’s revenge: Former Browns quarterback Jacoby Brissett replaced Howell in the second quarter. It took him less than 4 minutes to move 84 yards for a touchdown. He scored on a 12-yard keeper, bouncing out of pressure to the right edge and there was no defender between he and the end zone. The biggest play of the drive was a Brissett dime to receiver Byron Pringle, who beat safety D’Anthony Bell for 32 yards. The Commanders held a 14-2 lead at halftime. Brissett threw deep for the end zone just before the half ended and was intercepted by safety Ronnie Hickman. Brissett also put up a field goal in the third quarter. Hickman added an interception of Jake Fromm in the fourth quarter.
8. Rough night for Dobbs: Joshua Dobbs relieved Watson and was treated unkindly by the second Washington defensive unit. He was pressured at least seven times, sacked once and felled after throws a few times. Dobbs was intercepted near the Washington goal line on a ball way over the head of David Bell. Dobbs actually made the tackle after a 42-yard return by safety Percy Butler, and he took the brunt of that hit, too. For the night, Dobbs was 8 of 16 for 77 yards. He teamed up with receiver Austin Watkins three times to move the ball downfield and toss a 7-yard TD to Bell. DTR was 9 of 10 for 102 yards in compiling his second 100+ passer rating in two outings.9. MASH: Besides Moore’s rib, the Browns reported injuries to linebacker Jacob Phillips (shoulder), cornerback A.J. Green (shoulder) and safety Bubba Bolden (hamstring).
10. The longest preseason: The Browns are now 2 for 2 in preseason game delays. Kickoff was delayed 1 hour, 10 minutes because of severe weather warnings. It was down to a drizzle when the game kicked off at 8:48 p.m. The Browns waited out a 17-minute delay in the HOF game in Canton when a bank of lights went out in Tom Benson Stadium in the second half.
11. Good night, Irene: Before the game, the Browns announced 16 players would not play. They were: CB Greg Newsome, LB Anthony Walker, WR-KR Jakeem Grant, WR Mike Woods, WR Jaelon Darden, WR Marquise Goodwin, S Grant Delpit, RB Jerome Ford, LB Matthew Adams, LB Sione Takitaki, DE Isaiah Thomas, G Drew Forbes, TE Harrison Bryant, DE Alex Wright, DT Shelby Harris and DT Trysten Hill. Most of these players were injured and did not practice this week. The exceptions were Delpit, Takitaki, Walker and Grant. The latter three are still being acclimated into regular action after 2022 surgeries. Delpit’s reason for missing the game was a good one. He was excused to attend his graduation ceremonies at LSU. Harris, who just joined the team on Thursday, will inherit Perrion Winfrey’s No. 97 jersey number.
12. Also idle: Starters who dressed and did not play included Chubb, Garrett, Bitonio and cornerback Denzel Ward.
