3 Browns That Showed Off in Preseason Loss to Packers

The Cleveland Browns lost their first preseason game of the 2024 season 23-10 to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. But don't fret.

It's just the preseason, and the goal isn't necessarily wins (although that's a bonus), but rather player development and evaluating scheme efficiency. And in those areas, the Browns excelled.

"Getting ready for the season" is coach Kevin Stefanski's goal, as he mentioned after the loss on Saturday.

"It's a big week for us continuing on the process of getting ready for the season and week one coming," Stefanski said. "But this is a big part of that and all the meetings, the lifts, the practice, you name it, it's all really, really important. But first, we gotta make some corrections from last night."

Three players stood out above the rest, and they were at important positions.

Backup quarterback Jameis Winston only played the first drive of the game, but it was one of just two scoring drives for the Browns. Winston appeared calm and collected, even when under pressure, and was efficient with his play. On a pivotal 2nd and 8, he threw a dart to wideout Michael Woods III for a gain of 18, setting up a long field goal attempt.

"I thought he operated well," Stefanski said of Winston after the game. "Again, so much of this, I know we talk about the word operation, but it's getting your team from the huddle to the line of scrimmage, making the correct run checks, pass checks, that type of thing. I thought he did a nice job."

Rookie guard Zak Zinter - the Browns ' third-round pick from Michigan - spent some time at right guard on Saturday as a rotation of several players along the offensive line. Stefanski was impressed with Zinter's play - although the young guard was responsible for an ineligible man downfield call that negated a touchdown for the team.

"I thought they had some good moments certainly in that game and then obviously some moments that we have to clean up," Stefanski said of Zinter and fellow rookie G Javion Cohen. "I think it's true if you watch the tape on a lot of our young players in particular, it's just a little inconsistent and that means some good and some bad. So those guys are right where they need to be, they're progressing well."

Backup quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson impressed many last preseason and was a force under center before an injury sidelined him prematurely last year. But it appears DTR has picked up where he left off.

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The second-year signal caller led the team's four second-half drives and looked sharp in the process, impressing Stefanski.

"His whole thing is a process, so certainly those games are a big part of it because you get to go up against a different opponent," Stefanski said. "But I really go back to practice and how Dorian's been once he came back and was cleared to finally practice, and was towards the tail end of the offseason program. Got a little bit of plays in back then and then really has attacked this training camp and done a nice job of making every rep count, making every meeting count and certainly had some nice plays out there last night."