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CLEVELAND — On fourth down inside the Denver 10-garden line, Cleveland Browns quarterback Scenario Keenum dropped back again with the Denver Broncos’ move hurry barreling down on him and no area to throw the ball.
So Keenum took off up the middle. And with a Denver linebacker standing in the way, Keenum faked left, then dove suitable for a to start with down at the 1-property line. Then, on the upcoming enjoy, he lofted a touchdown go off play-motion to assistance propel the Browns to a 17-14 victory more than the Broncos Thursday evening.
Two offseasons back, the Browns did not just indication Keenum to be a mentor for starting quarterback Baker Mayfield. They brought him in believing he could arrive as a result of in a pinch, to maintain Cleveland’s time afloat if named upon. With Mayfield out mainly because of a torn labrum and a tuberosity fracture in his still left non-throwing shoulder, Keenum delivered on Thursday evening at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“He fought like he normally does,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski reported of Keenum. “Orchestrated the operation. That was a enormous participate in there on fourth down. Just to make a enjoy, combating for extra yardage. He did a great work preventing.”
Functioning competently out of a major participate in-action-based, limited-toss-oriented attack, Keenum steadied the Browns pursuing two consecutive losses. He finished 21 of 33 passes for 199 yards and the landing, which followed the perform of the sport — his fourth-down conversion.
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“You don’t have to get completely ready if you stay prepared,” Keenum mentioned this 7 days, “and I’ve been prepared considering that I obtained in this article.”
Keenum may have to remain prepared for the time being.
Complicating Cleveland’s quarterback situation even further, Mayfield disclosed he also has a fracture in his remaining shoulder. Mayfield is aiming to return by Cleveland’s up coming match on Oct. 31 in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But if Mayfield is unable to go, Keenum proved Thursday that the Browns have a different quarterback who can deliver.
Buy on a breakout general performance: With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt both nursing calf injuries, 3rd-string jogging back again D’Ernest Johnson manufactured the most of his to start with occupation commence. Johnson rushed for 34 yards on the opening push, including a 4-yard touchdown run. Johnson went on to finish with 146 yards — the initially 100-garden sport of his career. Chubb could be again as soon as Oct. 31. But with Hunt expected to be out numerous months, Johnson showed he can retain Cleveland’s highly effective speeding assault buzzing.
Troubling development: The Browns protection dominated for significantly of the game, keeping Denver to 76 complete yards in the to start with fifty percent. But in the second 50 %, Cleveland’s protection experienced various options to set Denver — and its lackluster offense — away. Rather, the Broncos ended up capable to engineer a fourth-quarter landing drive to retain the match fascinating. The Browns even now boast the expertise to discipline a best-tier defense. But midway by the time, they continue to have but to set it all alongside one another.
Describe the sport in two text: Get appropriate. It was not the prettiest performance, but the Browns desperately necessary this victory to continue to keep their lofty preseason aspirations intact.
