[ad_1]
By TOM WITHERS
Baker Mayfield returned after injuring his left shoulder to throw a touchdown pass and run for a touchdown, leading the Cleveland Browns to a 31-21 victory Sunday over the Houston Texans, who were in it until that starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor was injured.
Nick Chubb hit a 26-yard touchdown for the Browns (1-1), who rebounded from a Week 1 loss at Kansas City to steal their first home ability since 2019.
Mayfield scored 10 for 10 after an interception in the first half – and injured his non-pitching shoulder while making the tackle on the play – and finished 19 of 21 for 213 yards. Chubb amassed 95 yards on 11 carries.
Browns rookie Demetric Felton caught a short pass from Mayfield, rotated, smashed a tackle and ran 33 yards in the third quarter for an electrifying touchdown to put Cleveland in the lead for good.
The Texans (1-1) were tied at halftime and moved the ball with ease before losing Taylor to a hamstring injury.
The 32-year-old, who spent 2018 with Cleveland and got the Houston job this season by default due to Deshaun Watson’s legal issues, managed 10 of 11 assists in the first half but did not come out of the cloakrooms.
Taylor’s injury forced rookie Davis Mills into his first NFL action and he threw an interception in his second series.
Mills threw a 2-yard pass to Brandin Cooks in the fourth quarter to bring the Texans down to 24-21.
But the Browns responded with an 82-yard drive – mostly on the ground – that Chubb finished with his score.
Cleveland wide receiver Jarvis Landry injured his knee in the second offensive play and did not return.
Taylor’s injury was the most notable for Houston, but not the only one as the Texans have had a rough day.
For a while, Browns fans waited nervously while Mayfield was in the locker room for treatment.
Cleveland QB injured his shoulder when he threw his pick, then rushed to the legs of Texans safety Justin Reid. Mayfield remained on the ground in obvious pain during his assessment.
He was helped and checked in the medical tent before running to the locker room. Mayfield returned to the bench a few minutes later.
While Mayfield was out, Taylor scored on a 15-yard rush on the third down to give the Texans a 14-7 lead.
On his first return of possession, Mayfield scored on a 5-yard run which he celebrated by shooting the ball into the wall in front of the Dawg Pound section.
LANDRY INJURED
Landry’s injury not only affected Cleveland’s offense, but also ended an impressive streak.
The eight-year veteran had caught at least two assists in 111 straight games, the fourth longest streak in history. Hall of Fame Tim Brown holds the record with 147, one more than Jerry Rice.
Where there are wills
Browns starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. played despite being out of practice all week with a sprained left ankle he sustained early in Game 1.
Wills played part of the third quarter before being replaced by Blake Hance.
Wills’ status has become more relevant as his replacement, Chris Hubbard, was ruled out earlier in the week with a triceps injury.
INJURIES
Texans: WR Nico Collins (shoulder) was injured in the first quarter and did not return. … S Eric Murray (concussion), WR Danny Amendola (hamstrings), TE Antony Auclair (eye), CB Terrance Mitchell (head) and Reid (lower leg / head) were also injured.
FOLLOWING
Texans: Quick recovery with a Thursday night clash at home against Carolina.
Browns: Stay home and host the Chicago Bears next Sunday.
[ad_2]
Source link