CHICAGO -- With four or five roster spots up for grabs, the Cleveland Browns will still have many excruciating decisions to make this weekend following a 24-0 loss against the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
Collectively, it was not a banner evening for the Browns. But individually, some last-minute jockeying for spots on the 53-man roster was happening at Soldier Field.
Wide receiver Josh Lenz caught four passes for 49 yards – all in the first half. Signed on May 30, the former Colt and Bear has consistently made plays during his time in Cleveland. Lenz finishes the preseason with seven catches for 108 yards and even logged snaps as a safety in the second half when the Browns were in a pinch.
Defensive lineman Billy Winn had a tackle for a loss and was playing like his hair was on fire. Did the release of both Phil Taylor and Ishmaa'ily Kitchen carve out enough room for the 26-year-old on the 53-man roster? Entering his fourth year with the team, Winn had 31 tackles and an interception in 2014.
Angling for position in the tight ends room, Rob Housler caught a short pass over the middle in the first quarter and turned it into a swift 19-yard gain. E.J. Bibbs caught one pass for 4 yards.
Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor saw his first two touches as a Brown in a peculiar place – under center as a quarterback. Late in the third quarter, the towering 6-foot-4 athlete took two read-option scrambles for 9 total yards.
Thaddeus Lewis started at quarterback and completed 12 straight passes at one point, finishing the night 14-of-20 for 100 yards and one interception.
A trio of impact players, Terrance West, Dwayne Bowe and Xavier Cooper, received heavy playing time for a final tune-up before the season opener against the New York Jets. Playing the entire first half, West rushed the ball nine times for 35 yards. Bowe caught a pass for 8 yards and played three quarters. Cooper leveled Bears quarterback David Fales on a third down in the first quarter, forcing an errant pass.
As for the game itself, there were many teachable moments the Browns will take away.
Cleveland fumbled twice in the first half, one leading to a Chicago touchdown. Playing behind all an offensive line filled with reserves, Lewis was sacked seven times and threw a pick-six in the third quarter to Bears safety Sherrod Martin.
Sloppy tackling from the Browns led to a 19-yard touchdown from Bears wide receiver Marc Mariani in the second quarter. Chicago running back Jeremy Langford had six carries for 47 yards. A block-in-the-back penalty from Vince Mayle wiped out a 55-yard kick return from Darius Jennings.
The Browns players will have the weekend off, but the coaches and scouting department won't. Coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer will have to cut 22 players by Saturday and also form a 10-man practice squad.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown throws a pass to running back Isaiah Crowell as the Browns quarterbacks coach Kevin O'Connell watches before an NFL preseason football game
Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Andrew Hawkins warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
WR Terrelle Pryor catches a pass in pregame warmups
OL Joe Thomas smiles in pregame warmups before the Browns face the Bears
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor taking pregame reps
Every player has their own form of pregame prep
Cleveland Browns quarterback Thad Lewis (3) warms up before an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine talks to Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould (9) before an NFL preseason football game
Chicago Bears' Terrance Mitchell (20) is tackled by Cleveland Browns' Vince Mayle (85) on a kick off return during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
Cleveland Browns quarterback Thad Lewis (3) looks for a receiver during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns quarterback Thad Lewis (3) hands off the ball to running back Terrance West (28) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
Cleveland Browns quarterback Thad Lewis (3) runs against Chicago Bears linebacker Willie Young (97) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Lenz is tackled by Chicago Bears free safety Brock Vereen (45) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
Browns wide receiver Vince Mayle looks to make a play on special teams
Chicago Bears plays against Cleveland Browns during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Lenz makes a catch against Chicago Bears defense during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
Cleveland Browns running back Terrance West (28) battles for extra yards
Chicago Bears running back Jeremy Langford (36) is tackled by Cleveland Browns strong safety Ibraheim Campbell, defensive back Joe Rankin and defensive end Billy Winn (90)
Cleveland Browns running back Shaun Draughn (20) runs against Chicago Bears linebacker Mason Foster (53)
Browns wide receiever Vince Mayle makes a sliding reception
Offensive coordinator John DeFillippo relaying the play to QB Thad Lewis
Fans cheer on the Browns at Soldier Field
Fans cheer on the Browns at Soldier Field
Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor looks to pick up a block down-field
DL John Hughes stands on the sidelines
OL Cameron Erving standing on the sidelines
Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine talks to Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears
