Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.Second thoughts on Browns’ 17-15 loss to Commanders in Preseason Game 2 … Jacob Phillips usually leads the Browns in tackling when he’s on the field. He was doing that again Friday night against the Washington Commanders when the usual happened again – an injury.
The linebacker suffered a torn right pectoral muscle and will be lost for the season, again, after the required surgery.
Phillips tore the left pec last year in Game 7. The year before that, he missed the first 12 games with a biceps injury. The year before that, his rookie season, he missed six games with a knee injury and COVID.
So, out of a possible 66 games through his first four NFL seasons, Phillips will have missed 46 of them with injuries.
“It hurts [to see],” coach Kevin Stefanski said. “I hurt for Jacob, and this is why we’re teammates and why we support each other. But yeah, it’s the worst part of the game.”
Hard-luck LB Jacob Phillips now has suffered four major injuries in four years. (Cleveland Browns)
Phillips was a third-round pick from LSU in GM Andrew Berry’s first draft of 2020. His contract is up after this season. The injury likely crushes his market in free agency. But it just may lead to a return to the Browns in 2024 on a one-year deal.
Now for the winners and losers from the weather-delayed, 17-15 loss to the Commanders.
WinnersQuarterback Deshaun WatsonIs it fair to say the rust from his long layoff has finally been knocked off?
Watson was nimble, assertive and totally in charge in 12 plays on the Browns’ first offensive series. It ended with Washington defensive stops at the 1-yard line, of Demetric Felton on third down and John Kelly on fourth down. We won’t see Watson in a game again until probably the preseason finale in Kansas City. By then, the Browns’ offense will be expanded and season-ready.
“Everyone is giving me the keys and they are following my lead,” Watson said after the game. “So as far as I go, this offense goes and this team goes, and the energy, the plays to really just controlling … leading this team is going to go as far as myself.
“We’re very excited. I mean, everyone, once I came off the field, even though we went four and out and they got the ball back, you can feel the energy. Everyone … defense, offense, special teams, everyone was saying good job, and they were excited about it. You can see everyone’s expression. So, yeah, I’m super excited to get especially [Nick] Chubb and Joel [Bitonio] and Amari [Cooper] back out there and you know, really open up the playbook like we want to.”
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-RobinsonHe opened the second half and moved the team to the Washington 28 (a missed field goal) and then commanded a 75-yard touchdown drive ending in a 7-yard TD to David Bell. So in six full series in two appearances, DTR has three TD drives and a passer rating of 134.9 on 17 of 21 passing for 184 yards and two TD. Yes, he’s playing against deep roster backups. But, yes, he’s playing
with deep roster backups.
Wide receiver Austin Watkins
The strapping pickup from the USFL continued to get open and, most importantly, secure the ball when it arrives. He was on the receiving end of DTR three times and finished with a game-high six catches (on eight targets) for 71 yards. Bell looked better, too, (three catches, 33 yards, one TD). If you count rookie Cedric Tillman as WR4, Bell and Watkins clearly have pulled ahead in the race for WR5 and WR6. Anthony Schwartz went 0 for 3 after losing a fumble in the HOF game and Marquise Goodwin remains out with blood clots. Watkins has come out of nowhere to be in the mix.
Safety Ronnie HickmanThe undrafted free agent from Ohio State leaped into the battle for S4 with two interceptions. He added five tackles and led the Browns in defensive snaps (45), and was second in special teams snaps (12). He and Bubba Bolden, a 2022 undrafted signee by the Seahawks, are making a case for the Browns to keep five safeties. D’Anthony Bell didn’t appear to have a good night, and consequently has no lock on a roster spot.
“It’s an impressive rookie class from a intelligence standpoint, and Ronnie certainly fits in that group and knowing where to go and what to do and just the ability,” Stefanski said. “And he’s a young man that really works hard at knowing what to do. So that puts himself in position, and I think he’s got really good ball skills and that was evident last night.”
LosersKicker Cade YorkStefanski again professed confidence and faith in Cade York after the unchallenged kicker missed from 46 yards after missing from 49 in Canton.
“I don’t think there’s a common thread [to his misses],” Stefanski said. “It’s a small sample size. Going to continue to work. Cade’s working very hard, just like the rest of our team is. I think it’s preseason football for all of us. None of us are ready to play or coach in that first game just yet. So, we’re working through it.”
Offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr.Have no idea how he graded, but Joshua Dobbs felt a lot of pressure when he played and Wheatley and James Hudson were a part of that. Meanwhile, Dawand Jones logged 54 snaps and nobody was getting past him. Line coach Bill Callahan expressed the hope to keep five tackles. If so, Wheatley is in. But if they only keep four, he would be the odd man out – for now.
“I thought the guys did a nice job,” Stefanski said of the lines in general. “Never perfect. We definitely got in some empty sets and really challenged the offensive line at times. And we won our fair share. They got theirs.”
