EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The Browns opened their preseason on Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. It was the debut of their new-look quarterback room, including starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor and No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield.
The outcome of the game is meaningless -- we learned that last season. So let's take a look at some of the players who helped themselves on Thursday night and some of the players who came out on the other side.
Friendly reminder: this is all based on watching the game real-time and in-person. So if you're looking for the nuances of interior line play ... it's not happening here.
Helped
Tyrod Taylor
Taylor did exactly what he was supposed to do. His first throw was delivered down the sideline to Jarvis Landry in the face of pressure. He threw a perfect ball to David Njoku on the Browns' first touchdown. It's crazy what having a veteran quarterback can do for an offense.
Taylor completed all five of his passes for 99 yards and a score.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield started slow backed up against his own end zone, but once he settled in he showed off his pocket presence, accuracy and instincts. On the drive that ended in his first touchdown throw (we'll get to that), he completed a long pass to C.J. Board to convert a third-and-18. He scrambled for two more first downs, including on a fourth-and-2.
His touchdown catch to Antonio Callaway was right on the money and Callaway turned it into a big gain and a touchdown.
Mayfield finished 11-for-20 with 212 yards and two touchdowns.
David Njoku
After facing questions about his hands during training camp, Njoku provided a big play with a catch-and-run for a score on a seam route. If that becomes a staple and Njoku can make that play, watch out.
Njoku later caught Baker Mayfield's first touchdown toss, just a "he's too big so throw it up in the back of the end zone and let him get it" throw.
Mychal Kendricks
Kendricks got work with the first team at linebacker on the second defensive series and his third-down sack of Eli Manning got the defense off the field. Kendricks is going to push for playing time and this is a good start.
Rashard Higgins
Higgins just keeps doing good things. His catch on the first touchdown drive set up the play to Njoku. He made a special teams tackle early in the game. All of a sudden, the Higgins hype might be real. A four-catch, 66-yard night will do just fine.
A little of both
Antonio Callaway
Callaway struggled hanging onto the football and missed some opportunities to help out his quarterback. The speedster from Florida, who has already had a tough week, is a work in progress on and off the field.
He made up for his first-half struggles with a 24-yard catch on the sideline when Mayfield scrambled. Initially called incomplete, it was overturned upon replay review. Then he took a quick throw from Mayfield and turned it into a 54-yard touchdown.
Callaway ended his night by catching three passes for 87 yards.
Hurt
Nick Chubb
Using the term "hurt" here loosely. Chubb just never got it going running behind the second-team offensive line. He appeared hesitant at times. There's no reason to think Chubb won't be fine, though, and his roster spot certainly won't be in jeopardy even if it takes some time.
A positive was a catch out of the backfield from Mayfield on third down, something that Chubb needs to show he can do on a regular basis as he simply wasn't asked to do that at Georgia.
The second-team O-line
It was a less-than-ideal performance. It featured Shon Coleman at right tackle and Greg Robinson at left tackle and there weren't many holes opening up for Chubb to get through. Rookie Austin Corbett also stayed on after his turn with the first team.
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