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Browns lose preseason game against Vikings, 3 more tackles due to injuries

CLEVELAND — The starters never left the sidelines, wearing shorts, baseball caps and the occasional bucket hat after training hard in two joint practices with the Minnesota Vikings during the week.

The game belonged to the substitutes and they could not convince in front of a sparse crowd.

Two interceptions – one each by quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tyler Huntley – sealed the Browns’ 27-12 loss to the Vikings in preseason play on Saturday.

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The bigger problem, which could linger into the regular season, was injuries to three tackles – James Hudson III (ankle), Germain Ifedi (finger) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee). The position was already understaffed.

Depending on the results of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), general manager Andrew Berry could be forced to make a trade, scour the free agent market and hope the tackles make it onto the waivers list.

“Injuries are obviously the worst part of this game,” said coach Kevin Stefanski. “I feel sorry for the guys. And then we will rehabilitate them and get them back as quickly as possible.”

The Browns fell to 0-2 in the preseason and will play the finale next Saturday night in Seattle. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and many of the regular players are scheduled to play.

They return to the lakeshore on September 8th for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

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The Browns began training camp with left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Jack Conklin still recovering from knee surgeries that ended last year's season. They remain unavailable for action and Stefanski declined to give a timetable for their return, although they appear to be making progress.

“They are both involved, working very hard and we will bring them back when they get back,” he said.

Right tackle Dawand Jones had the evening off and is the only healthy tackle expected to make the regular season roster.

Hudson, who primarily replaced Wills, was the first to leave the field Saturday. He limped off in the second quarter with a left ankle injury. Ifedi and Hakeem Adeniji left the field on the first drive of the third quarter. They were all ruled out.

Berry signed Ifedi and Adeniji in the offseason as experienced backups. The position was decimated by injuries last season, with Wills, Conklin, Jones and Ty Nsekhe out for the season.

“It's tough,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I mean, you don't want one of your teammates to get hurt, not to mention the guys that help me block and hold me up.”

Adeniji's injury appeared to be the worst. He left the stadium on crutches and with a brace on his right knee. He will undergo an MRI on Sunday.

Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern intercepted a throw from Huntley at the 1-yard line and returned it 91 yards. Adeniji chased him for a long time before stopping, then went hard again when Huntley slowed McGlothern down the sideline. Adeniji's right knee hyperextended as he spun out of bounds after a play.

He needed help getting to the medical tent before he could limp into the locker room under his own power.

For the second week in a row, the offense only managed 10 points. (The defense was able to get a safety on a sack by defensive tackle Chris Williams.) There were chances for more this week, but interceptions on the last drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half sabotaged them and took the wind out of the Browns' sails.

Thompson-Robinson completed 13 of 17 passes for 126 yards with one interception, one sack and a passer rating of 72.2. After getting the Browns to the Vikings' 34-yard line with a 27-yard pass to running back D'Onta Foreman and a 17-yard pass to tight end Giovanni Ricci, Thompson-Robinson's pass intended for rookie receiver Jamari Thrash was behind him and deflected to safety Lewis Cine.

“It was definitely a bad ball,” Thompson-Robinson said. “I tried to anticipate it and throw it in front of him, but I couldn't see it bounce because I threw it so early. I guessed the throw more than anything else.”

“I put him in a difficult position.”

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He led Cleveland's only touchdown drive, an eight-play, 69-yard run in the first quarter. Foreman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, effectively completing the comeback from a nasty neck injury suffered on Aug. 1 at West Virginia.

Thompson-Robinson threw a 17-yard hook to receiver James Proche II and a 15-yard hook to Thrash on fourth-and-2. A pass interference penalty in the end zone after Thompson-Robinson evaded a sack gave the ball a 1-yard lead.

Huntley took command early in the second half, completing 14 of 20 passes for 135 yards, two interceptions and a 49.0 rating. He ran four times for a team-leading 19 yards.

He got off to a great start, throwing a 30-yard pass to tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden on his first play. He followed with a 22-yard pass to undrafted rookie tight end Treyton Welch, but was intercepted on an overthrow toward Welch.

Huntley's second interception came in the final minute when he stepped into the pocket and threw over the middle.

“I'm here to win the game. I'm not here to win a job,” Thompson-Robinson said when asked about the competition with Huntley, who will remain as the third quarterback behind Watson and Jameis Winston. “I want to get some throws back today that I can watch on tape with coach on Monday. I'm going to have to listen to a lot from him.”

Foreman was the Browns' best player with five catches for 46 yards, while Mitchell-Paden and Ricci each contributed four for 59 and 32 yards, respectively. Ricci had to leave the game due to a knee injury.

“Some good and some bad,” Stefanski said of his quarterbacks. “And there's a constant desire from our quarterbacks to play consistently. I think there were some really good moments and then there are some things that you can definitely learn from with those two players.”

“This group, all four guys, are really close to my heart.”

Nick Mullens threw a touchdown pass for the Vikings and Jaren Hall threw two. The Browns had five sacks, including two by Williams, who also forced a fumble.

“Very hardworking,” Stefanski said. “Does a great job in the building. One of the first guys in, last one out, and then he plays with great effort.”

If Berry decides to trade a tackle, he has a surplus of good defensive tackles that could attract interest.

Browns writer for The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette. Proud graduate of Northwestern University. Husband and stepfather. Avid golfer who has to hit the range to get to a single-digit handicap. Right with Johnny Manziel, wrong with Brandon Weeden. Contact Scott at 440-329-7253 or email and follow him on and On Twitter.

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