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    • Tyler Huntley solid, but Browns lose
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    Tyler Huntley solid, but Browns lose

    Vaseline Posted on

    SEATTLE — The biggest question of the preseason was answered long before the Cleveland Browns kicked off their final game of the exhibition season at the Seattle Seahawks.

    Would quarterback Deshaun Watson play in a game before the regular-season opener or not? The answer, it turns out, was an emphatic, “No.”

    The question did at least linger until there was less than 12 hours until kickoff for the Browns’ 37-33 loss to the Seahawks in their preseason finale. Cleveland finished the preseason 0-3.

    At 1:30 p.m. Eastern, 11½ hours before kickoff, the word came down that Browns coach Kevin Stefanski was going with backup Jameis Winston to start. Watson, who hasn’t played in a game since last Nov. 12, is expected to be ready to go for the Sept. 8 regular-season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

    Winston, in two series, was 6-of-9 passing for 63 yards and an 86.8 passer rating. He was followed for the remainder of the first half by Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and Tyler Huntley played the entire second half.

    Watson joined a list of Browns players who didn’t play in the preseason finale, even though Stefanski said all the starters who could play were likely to play. Still, outside of a rib injury to running back D’Onta Foreman and a possible concussion to cornerback Justin Hardee Sr., the Browns did emerge without any significant injury news.

    Follow along here throughout the night — and into Sunday morning — with Browns After Dark from the Pacific Northwest.

    Tyler Huntley played the entire second half at quarterback for the Browns. He threw three touchdowns, one to James Proche II and two to Michael Woods II.

    The second one to Woods, with 8 seconds remaining, was a 15-yarder to pull the Browns within 37-33.

    Huntley finished the game 17-of-22 passing for 146 yards and the three scores. His passer rating was a team-best 133.7.

    Jason Myers made his third field goal of the game for Seattle to make it 37-26 Seahawks with 7:51 remaining. This time, it was a 51-yard field goal.

    The Browns had been successful once going for it on fourth down on its first full drive of the fourth quarter. Quarterback Tyler Huntley hit tight end Treyton Welch for 13 yards on fourth-and-1 from the Browns 29.

    However, on fourth-and-3 from their own 49, Huntley was sacked for an 11-yard loss. That gave Seattle the ball back at the Cleveland 38 with 9:10 remaining.

    Browns safety Chase Williams was being evaluated for a possible concussion he sustained at some point late in the third quarter.

    Tyler Huntley started the fourth quarter with his second touchdown pass of the night. This time, it was a 12-yard throw to a wide-open Michael Woods II to make it 34-26 with 14:55 remaining.

    The Browns tried to go for the two-point conversion. However, Huntley could not get away from the Seahawks pass rush and was tackled.

    The Seahawks lead the Browns 34-20 as the teams head into the final quarter of the preseason. The Browns have run 52 plays to 35 for Seattle, and have a 289 to 250 edge in total yards.

    Cleveland starts the fourth quarter at the Seahawks 12.

    The Browns thought they had picked off their former teammate, P.J. Walker. Instead, the roughing the passer call that negated Tyler Coyle’s interception ultimately helped to set up another Seattle Seahawks touchdown.

    George Holani scored from a yard out with 1:54 remaining in the third quarter to give Seattle a 34-20 lead. That came on the same drive that was nearly ended before it began due to the pick that was called back.

    P.J. Walker threw a pass to the Cleveland Browns, even though he was a member of the Seattle Seahawks. However, the interception by Browns safety Tyler Coyle was negated by a roughing the passer penalty against Cleveland’s Jeremiah Martin.

    Tyler Huntley threw his first touchdown of the preseason for the Browns when he hit James Proche II for a 6-yard score with 5:45 remaining. Lucas Havrisik’s PAT kick made it 27-20 Seahawks.

    Huntley and Proche were previously also teammates with the Baltimore Ravens.

    Safety Chris Edmonds made a big play for the Browns defense by tackling Seattle running back Koby Lewis for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Seattle 35.

    Browns cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. is officially being evaluated for a possible concussion.

    P.J. Walker, who started a pair of games for the Browns last October and came off the bench to win another, took over for the Seattle Seahawks at quarterback on their second offensive series of the third quarter. Walker replaced Sam Howell, who had played all but the first series of the game for the Seahawks.

    Walker, famously, was the starting quarterback for the Browns last Oct. 29 when they played at Seattle. It was his interception off of a deflection late in the game that helped set up the Seahawks for the go-ahead touchdown in a 24-20 Browns loss.

    Tyler Huntley took over the quarterbacking duties for the Browns on their first offensive possession of the second half. He was taking snaps from Zack Johnson, who moved over to center from right tackle.

    Jason Myers kicked a 47-yard field goal to push Seattle’s lead out to 27-13 with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter. The Seahawks had received the ball to open the half.

    Browns cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. was helped by the medical staff to the blue tent after a 2-yard George Holani run in the third quarter. There’s no immediate word on his status.

    Dorian Thompson-Robinson was 11 of 20 for 115 yards with a touchdown in the first half. He had a passer rating of 88.5.

    Thompson-Robinson came on for Jameis Winston on the third offensive series for the Browns.

    The Browns went into the locker room at halftime trailing the Seattle Seahawks 24-13. On the final play of the half, Lucas Havrisik hit a 49-yard field goal for the Browns.

    Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s 20-yard pass to Michael Woods II to the Seattle Seahawks’ 10 was negated when right tackle Zack Johnson was flagged for holding. That moved the ball back to the Seahawks’ 40.

    The Seahawks’ special teams added to the Browns’ misery when Dee Eskridge reversed his field and outran the Cleveland punt coverage unit for a 79-yard touchdown. That made it 24-10 Seattle with 4:04 remaining in the second quarter.

    Eskridge got all the way over to the left sideline before, finding no room, turned and ran the other direction. He found a seam and was virtually untouched on his way to the end zone.

    The Browns defense managed to get a big play from linebacker Mohamoud Diabate with a 4-yard sack of quarterback Sam Howell on third down. However, Seahawks kicker Jason Myers made a 58-yard field goal on the next play to extend the Seattle lead to 17-10 with 5:22 remaining in the second quarter.

    Browns linebacker Winston Reid was flagged for unnecessary roughness and ejected from the game after he hit Seattle wide receiver Easop Winston Jr. in the side of the head on an incomplete pass.

    The Seahawks almost immediately answered the Browns’ big play touchdown with one of their own. However, Sam Howell’s 73-yard touchdown pass to Cody White was negated by a holding call on guard Christian Haynes.

    Dorian Thompson-Robinson showed off the arm in finding rookie Jamari Thrash for a 46-yard touchdown on a post pattern. Dustin Hopkins’ point-after kick made it 14-10 Seattle with 10:31.

    Thompson-Robinson stood in and took a shot from two Seahawks immediately after he threw the ball.

    Kenny McIntosh pushed the Seattle Seahawks’ lead out to 14-3 with 11:42 remaining in the second quarter. McIntosh had a 56-yard touchdown run, one in which he unleashed a nasty stiff-arm on Browns safety Chase Williams to complete the run.

    Dustin Hopkins was good from 37 yards on his first field goal try of the preseason. The kick, from the right hash, pulled the Browns within 7-3 with 13:12 remaining in the second quarter.

    The Browns announced it is a rib injury for running back D’Onta Foreman. However, his return is questionable for the game.

    D’Onta Foreman was down for a moment before walking gingerly to the locker room with the aid of the Browns medical staff following a 3-yard run early in the second quarter in which he took a big shot from defensive tackle Kyon Barrs. There’s been no immediate word on the injury.

    Foreman had dealt with a scary injury to his head/neck area on the next to last day the Browns were in West Virginia in early August. He was taken by helicopter to a Roanoke, Va., hospital, but returned to the team that same day.

    The Browns led in several statistical categories, but not on the scoreboard after the first quarter. They had an 18-8 play edge, which led to a 94-67 total yards advantage after 15 minutes.

    The Browns have started to take some of the regulars out to open their third possession with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has also replaced Jameis Winston at quarterback.

    Also in on this series are Nick Harris at center and Javion Cohen at right guard. Dawand Jones remains at right tackle, while Zak Zinter (left guard) and Germain Ifedi (left tackle) also stay in the game.

    Winston was 6 of 9 for 63 yards with an 86.8 passer rating in his two possessions.

    The Browns’ promising second possession ended with an incompletion and no points. On fourth and 2 from the Seahawks’ 12, quarterback Jameis Winston’s pass to Jamari Thrash on a corner route was just too long and fell incomplete.

    Winston was 5 of 7 for 55 yards on the possession. He’s 6 of 9 for 63 yards through two possessions.

    Second-year wide receiver Cedric Tillman was a big part of the Browns’ second offensive possession. Tillman had three catches for 48 yards, including a big 19-yard catch on third down to the Seattle 20.

    The Seahawks marched right down the field and took a 7-0 lead with 9:50 remaining in the first quarter. The score came when quarterback Geno Smith hit DK Metcalf for a 21-yard touchdown on a fade route to the left corner of the end zone.

    Browns cornerback Justin Hardee Sr. was in coverage, but he fell down on the play. It appeared Metcalf may have pushed him down, but there was no flag.

    Smith was 4 of 5 for 62 yards on the drive for Seattle.

    Here are the first 11 players the Browns started on defense against the Seahawks:

    • LDE: Za’Darius Smith
    • DT: Quinton Jefferson
    • DT: Shelby Harris
    • RDE: Ogbo Okoronwko
    • LB: Devin Bush
    • LB: Mohamoud Diabate
    • Nickel: Cameron Mitchell
    • CB: Kahlef Hailassie
    • S: Grant Delpit
    • S: Juan Thornhill
    • CB: Justin Hardee Sr.

    The Browns nearly went three and out to open the game. However, quarterback Jameis Winston was hit late by Seattle linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, drawing a roughing the passer flag to extend the drive.

    Winston would later be sacked by the Seahawks’ Jeremy Reed, forcing a punt. Winston was officially 1 of 2 for 8 yards on the first possession.

    Here’s the first 11 the Browns put out on offense against the Seattle Seahawks:

    • QB: Jameis Winston
    • RB: Jerome Ford
    • TE: Jordan Akins
    • WR: Elijah Moore
    • WR: Cedric Tillman
    • WR: Jamari Thrash
    • LT: Germain Ifedi
    • LG: Zak Zinter
    • C: Ethan Pocic
    • RG: Wyatt Teller
    • RT: Dawand Jones

    If warmups are any indication, then it will be Dustin Hopkins handling the kicking duties, at least at the start, for the Browns. He capped warmups by kicking the point-after try, a sign he’ll make his preseason debut in the preseason finale.

    Kicker Dustin Hopkins had not kicked during the Browns’ first two preseason games against the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings. Stefanski said the reason for that was due to a “minor injury” that he didn’t expect to impact the regular season.

    The Browns had Cade York kicking in those games, but they traded him to the Washington Commanders on Thursday. The same day, they re-signed Lucas Havrisik to back up Hopkins, at least during the preseason.

    Hopkins, though, took part in pregame warmups prior to the finale against Seattle. He knocked in a 58-yard field goal going toward the south end of the stadium, showing that the distance that made him 8 for 8 from 50-plus yards a year ago still exists.

    Here’s the list of Browns players who are not expected to play in the preseason finale at the Seahawks:

    • CB Greg Newsome II
    • WR Amari Cooper
    • WR Jerry Jeudy
    • QB Deshaun Watson
    • LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
    • S Rodney McLeod
    • WR David Bell
    • RB Pierre Strong Jr.
    • CB Denzel Ward
    • RB Nyheim Hines
    • CB Martin Emerson Jr.
    • RB Nick Chubb
    • S Ronnie Hickman
    • S D’Anthony Bell
    • CB Tony Brown II
    • LB Nathaniel Watson
    • LB Tony Fields II
    • LS Charley Hughlett
    • C Luke Wypler
    • LB Jordan Hicks
    • OT James Hudson III
    • G Michael Dunn
    • OT Jedrick Wills Jr.
    • G Joel Bitonio
    • OT Jack Conklin
    • TE David Njoku
    • DT Maurice Hurst II
    • DE Alex Wright
    • DT Dalvin Tomlinson
    • DE Myles Garrett

    Notably not on that list include the following starters/first-unit players: Center Ethan Pocic, wide receiver Elijah Moore, running back Jerome Ford, guard Wyatt Teller, right tackle Dawand Jones, safety Grant Delpit, defensive ends Za’Darius Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo, defensive tackles Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris, and kicker Dustin Hopkins. That’s not to say all will play, but none have been ruled out 90 minutes before kickoff.

    The Browns sent defensive tackle Chris Williams, along with a 2025 seventh-round pick, to the Chicago Bears on Saturday morning. The Browns will receive back a 2025 sixth-round pick from the Bears that was, according to The Athletic’s Adam Jahns, originally owned by the Miami Dolphins.

    Williams, 26, had been one of the younger defensive linemen who had really popped during the reps he’s received. However, his pathway to playing time with the Browns was blocked by a number of older players, as well as Cleveland’s second-round pick last April, Mike Hall Jr.

    The third-year pro had recorded two solo tackles and two sacks over the course of 45 snaps in two preseason games. He also forced a fumble.

    Stefanski and the Browns have withheld the exact nature of most injuries throughout the course of training camp, which is permitted. However, this is the list of players who have not practiced over the course of the last week, including players on either the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) lists.

    • TE David Njoku (hasn’t practiced since Aug. 15; “sore” was Stefanski’s answer)
    • DT Maurice Hurst II (hasn’t practiced since Aug. 15 with apparent leg injury)
    • DT Dalvin Tomlinson (PUP/knee surgery)
    • CB Denzel Ward (concussion)
    • CB Greg Newsome II (NFI/hamstring surgery)
    • OT Jedrick Wills Jr. (PUP/knee surgery last December)
    • OT Jack Conklin (PUP/knee surgery last September)
    • OT James Hudson III (left second preseason game vs. Minnesota Aug. 17/ankle)
    • OT Hakeem Adeniji (left second preseason game vs. Minnesota Aug. 17/ankle/IR)
    • OG Michael Dunn (undisclosed)
    • RB Pierre Strong Jr. (left practice Wednesday in ambulance/rib contusion)
    • RB Nick Chubb (PUP/two knee surgeries last September, November)
    • RB Nyheim Hines (NFI/knee surgery last summer)
    • S D’Anthony Bell (PUP/shin)
    • S Ronnie Hickman (back)
    • LB Jordan Hicks (left practice Aug. 4/undisclosed)
    • C Luke Wypler (left preseason opener vs. Green Bay Aug. 10/broken ankle/injured reserve)
    • LB Nathaniel Watson (left preseason opener vs. Green Bay Aug. 10/quadriceps)
    • WR David Bell (left preseason opener vs. Green Bay Aug. 10/quadriceps)
    • LS Charley Hughlett (undisclosed)
    • K Dustin Hopkins (hasn’t kicked all preseason/Stefanski called it “minor injury”)
    • TV channel: ABC WEWS-TV (Channel 5)
    • Stream: ClevelandBrowns.com, NFL+ and Cleveland Browns mobile app
    • Announcers: Chris Rose (play-by-play), Nathan Zegura (analyst) and Aditi Kinkhabwala (sideline reporter).
    • The Cleveland Browns Radio Network will carry the game, with Jim Donovan (play-by-play), Je’Rod Cherry (analyst) and Ken Carman (sideline reporter) on the call. Among the affiliates in the Akron-Canton area are WAKR-AM 1590, WONE-FM 97.5, WHBC-AM 1480, WQKT-FM 104.5, WKRK-FM 92.3, WKNR-AM 850 and WNCX-FM 98.5.
    • The Cleveland Browns Radio Network’s call can also be streamed at Cleveland Browns.com, as well as the Browns’ mobile app. It’s also available on Sirius XM radio, with channel 380 carrying the Browns’ feed.
    • The Browns also have a Spanish-language broadcast, with Rafael “Rafa” Hernández-Brito (play-by-play) and Octavio Sequera (analyst) on the call. Games will be streamed on La Mega Cleveland, as well as heard on WNZN-FM 89.1 in Lorain and WVKO-FM 103.1 in Columbus.
    • Provided by BetMGM.com; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5 p.m. ET Saturday.
    • Moneyline (ML): Browns +135 (bet $100 to win $135) | Seahawks -160 (bet $160 to win $100)
    • Against the spread: Browns +3 (-105) | Seahawks -3 (-105)
    • Over/Under (O/U): 36 (O: -110 | U: -110)

    Saturday’s game will be the first time the Browns and Seattle Seahawks will play a preseason game. It’s not the first time the Browns have played a preseason game in Seattle, having played the San Francisco 49ers there on Aug. 10, 1969, a 21-16 Browns win.

    It’s the first time they’ve played a preseason game in the Pacific time zone since 1986, when they played at the then-Los Angeles Raiders in the final game of that preseason. They’ve played three times in the Mountain time zone since then: at Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals in 1989 and 1995, and at the Denver Broncos in 2007.

    Chris Easterling can be reached at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

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