CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns conducted their inaugural two-minute drills of camp during the Orange and Brown Scrimmage at FirstEnergy Stadium, and Baker Mayfield will want to forget his two chances.
Working against the second-team defense, Mayfield failed to put points on the board either time, and barely moved the chains. Case Keenum, on the other hand, worked with the second team offense against the first team and found the end zone both times, hitting tight end Harrison Bryant on a post route over Jovante Moffatt for a 39-yard TD, and finding a leaping David Njoku over rookie safety Richard LeCounte III for a 1-yard strike.
Part of Mayfield’s problem in the two-minute drill was that starting tight end Austin Hooper was off the whole day, with at least three drops and a short pass in the end zone in one-on-one drills broken up by a third-string cornerback.
In Mayfield’s first two-minute opportunity, Hooper dropped a pass that would’ve gone for a first down; and Mayfield then overthrew Jarvis Landry down the deep left side and Donovan Peoples-Jones down the deep right. That was the end of Two-Minute No. 1.
In his second chance, he failed to connect with Hooper on a short out to the left, overthrew Peoples-Jones down the deep left side, and missed Rashard Higgins wide down the deep right.
In Keenum’s second shot, he completed a few short passes to Njoku, and then found the big tight end climbing over LeCounte for 1-yard score following a 28-yard interference call against Greg Newsome II, who grabbed Peoples-Jones.
Yes, it’s just practice. But you want your first-team offense moving the ball better than that in the two-minute, especially against the backups. In Mayfield’s defense, he didn’t have Odell Beckham Jr. on the field, and hasn’t had much continuity on offense with several guys banged up, including Higgins.
But the deep ball sailed on Mayfield some, and he’ll have to make sure it’s nothing mechanical.
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Here are some other observations from the padded practice, in front of about 27,000 fans:
What about Hooper?
Hooper and Mayfield have been working hard together in camp, and spent time together in the offseason at Camp Mayfield and elsewhere. They’re good friends, and they’re determined to improve their chemistry.
The Browns have a larger role carved out for Hooper this season, but he and Mayfield have to have more rhythm for the plan to work. Mayfield currently has better on-field rapport with Njoku, with whom he’s practiced since 2018. But Hooper, who missed some games last season with appendicitis and a neck injury, is determined to do whatever it takes to enhance the connection. He’s had a good camp so far, but can get better.
Hollywood walks the red carpet
Higgins, rebounding from a turned ankle, caught a deep ball from Keenum in 7-on-7s over cornerback Brian Allen for a TD, and walked the red carpet. Mayfield made his way down, and served as the paparazzi. Higgins has fallen behind DPJ this camp, but has time to make up some ground.
Mayfield fares well inside the red zone
In red-zone drills, Mayfield picked up where he left off last season by being almost automatic. On back-to-back plays, Mayfield hit KhaDarel Hodge with a quick screen for a 25-yard score, and then found Njoku all alone in the end zone for TD of the same distance. He also threw a 10-yard TD strike to Nick Chubb, two plays after Chubb blasted up the middle and into the end zone for a 12-yard score.
Kicking it
Cody Parkey went 3-for-4 on field goal attempts, making kicks of 40, 43 and 46, and pushing a 49-yarder wide left. His challenger, Chase McLaughlin, went 4-for-4 on field goals, making kicks of 40, 43, 46 and 49 yards.
Harrison Bryant coming on strong
In addition to his 39-yard TD catch in the two-minute drill, Bryant beat LeCounte to an 8-yard TD in the back left of the end zone from Keenum. Bryant has had a solid camp, but he’s been relatively quiet so far. He appears to be heating up, though, and taking his game up a notch in his second season.
Nick Chubb was the man
Newly extended Nick Chubb was popular with the fans, who cheered his every move and roared when he appeared on the scoreboard. In addition to the 24-yard TD catch from Mayfield, he rushed for a 30-yard score on the first play of a series and later bolted up the middle for a 12-yard TD.
Kareem Hunt popular too
Hunt had an active day with a blast through the line and a cut to the left for a long TD and another 7-yard score in red zone drills in which he also bounced it outside. He also earned Brownie points by joining in on a “Steelers sucks’’ chant with the crowd.
Defenders idle
If the fans liked the defense they saw, just wait until the following injured or idle defenders get back: LB Anthony Walker (knee), DE Takk McKinley (personal reason), S Grant Delpit (Achilles, hamstring), S Ronnie Harrison Jr. (hamstring) and Denzel Ward (day of rest).
Other injuries
Receiver Anthony Schwartz (hamstring) didn’t practice again, and DT Malik McDowell left midway through practice with an oblique injury. LB Tony Fields (foot) is out for an extended period with his second foot injury since May.
What’s next
The Browns have Monday off and are back at it on Tuesday.
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