CLEVELAND — After two days of joint practices with the Indianapolis Colts at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, the Cleveland Browns are set to play their second preseason game of the year against the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium this afternoon.
The Browns are looking to build off of what they felt were two good days of practice against the Colts, as well as a successful showing in a 30-10 win over the Washington football team in their first preseason game last Thursday.
“We just have a way that we are going to treat our practices,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “That is how we are going to practice. That doesn’t ever change.
“It doesn’t matter who we are going against. It doesn’t matter if we are going against ourselves. I think we learned a lot about ourselves from the standpoint of that’s how you have to approach it. You keep your tempo. Let everybody else adjust to yours, not the other way around.”
Here are three things to watch for during the Browns’ preseason game against the Colts.
Expanded workload for Baker
Second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield did not get much work against the Washington football team in the preseason opener, but it was a successful night for the offense as a whole and its leader individually.
The Browns won the coin toss, took the ball and Mayfield opened with a scoring drive on the first possession of the game, as his touchdown pass to Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins gave Cleveland a 7-0 lead over Washington with 12:47 to play in the first quarter.
Facing a first-and-10 from Washington’s 24-yard line, Mayfield took the snap from center JC Tretter and fired a throw down the left hashmarks to Higgins, who broke open between second and third-level defenders to create the window for the touchdown pass.
Mayfield was five of six for 77 yards with the touchdown pass on the first drive of the game.
It stands to reason that Mayfield could see more time against the Colts.
“Anytime you can compete against some of the best, that is when you get better,” Mayfield said of the work against the Colts. “Iron sharpens iron. That is the way to do it. Coming out here is a good thing for us.
“There are definitely steps I still want to take protection-wise and continuing to grow with that, but I feel like I have made tremendous steps throughout the offseason with that stuff. Just continuing to get back in the flow of things, of having live reps against defenses. It is continuing to get better.”
More of Hunt
While wide receivers Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. were limited in their work during the two joint sessions with the Colts, running back Kareem Hunt was full-go after working his way through a groin injury at the start of training camp last month.
Hunt did not play in the preseason opener, but after two days of full-team work against the Colts, the Willoughby South High School product could make his Browns debut tonight.
“I’m feeling pretty good,” Hunt said after the practices with the Colts. “It’s just a lot of natural ability. I’m still getting the feel. I wouldn’t say I’m at my peak, but I’m working my way back.”
Depth at receiver
With injuries at the top of the depth chart comes expanded opportunities for those trying to make a good impression ahead of the roster cuts that are just two weeks away.
Landry did some team work Thursday, but Beckham Jr. did only the individual drills because of a hip issue. Add in the fact that wide receiver Antonio Callaway, who will miss the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy, is nursing an injury, and several receivers could see extensive playing time against and with a higher level of competition.
“It is getting guys ready -- the next man up mentality,” Mayfield said of Beckham Jr. missing time. “Obviously, he is going to be ready to go when it is time to play.
“Him sitting out and doing some of the things mentally is him getting used to the offense, seeing things and hearing us communicate it, and so, when he comes out there, he can be full speed and know exactly what to do. It is great for those other guys to get out there and get a chance to see a change of pace. The more guys who are ready to play with the first group, the better.”