After starting the preseason with a 23-10 loss, head coach Kevin Stefanski said that the Browns have some improvements to make over the course of training camp as they prepare for the 2024 regular season.
"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."
As the Browns prepare to turn their attention towards the upcoming week of training camp, let's take one last look at three the top performers from Saturday's game against Green Bay.
QB Jameis Winston
While backup QB Jameis Winston only played the first drive of the game, he led one of Cleveland's two scoring drives – resulting in a long field goal from K Cade York.
On second-and-8, Winston dropped back, assessed the field and made a nice throw to WR Michael Woods II for a pickup of 18 yards to set up the Browns in field goal range.
"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."
Winston's work did not end after his time on the field was up. According to QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the 10-year veteran was a vocal presence on the sideline throughout the game.
"They did a tremendous job helping me out," Thompson-Robinson said of the quarterbacks. "Jameis has been the vocal leader of the group, so him being right there in my ear, just kind of encouraging me the whole time, letting me know the things I did well, some of the things that he sees within the defense and stuff like that."
G Zak Zinter
The Browns rotated several different players at the guard position throughout the game, including rookie Zak Zinter, who spent time at right guard.
While Zinter was flagged for an ineligible man downfield penalty, negating a touchdown for WR Ahmarean Brown, Stefanski said he was pleased with what he saw from the Browns third-round pick despite having room to improve.
"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."
Both Zinter and Cohen will compete to back up starting guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, who did not play in Saturday's game.
QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson
The Browns' fifth round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft had a strong showing against the Packers, as Thompson-Robinson finished completing over 77 percent of his passes for 134 yards and a 97.7 passer rating.
Thompson-Robinson, who led each of the Browns’ four second-half drives, started three games for the Browns last season as a rookie, finishing with four interceptions and a passing touchdown.
Stefanski said that he's seen the second-year player grow as he progresses through training camp and the preseason.
"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."
