Geno Smith made the most of his only series of the preseason, leading the Seattle Seahawks to a 37-33 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Saturday night at Lumen Field. Smith dazzled in his brief appearance, throwing a 21-yard touchdown pass to DK Metcalf, showcasing the chemistry with his star receiver and the efficiency of Seattle’s offense under new coordinator Ryan Grubb.
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Limited Action for Starters
Both teams approached the preseason finale with caution, playing their starters sparingly. Notably, Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, along with several other key players, remained on the sidelines throughout the game, leaving the bulk of the action to the backups.
Smith, who had been sidelined for the first two preseason games, finally got his chance to lead the Seahawks’ offense. He completed 4 of 5 passes for 62 yards on his lone drive, including a 25-yard strike to rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba and the touchdown pass to Metcalf. After missing his first throw, Smith found his rhythm and guided the Seahawks down the field with ease.
Kenny McIntosh and Dee Eskridge Impress
Kenny McIntosh, competing for the No. 3 running back spot on Seattle’s roster, delivered a standout performance with a 56-yard touchdown run. The run was highlighted by a powerful open-field stiff arm against Cleveland safety Chase Williams, reinforcing McIntosh’s bid to secure his place on the team.
Injury-prone wide receiver Dee Eskridge also made a strong case for himself, showcasing the speed and elusiveness that once made him a second-round pick. Eskridge electrified the crowd with a 79-yard punt return touchdown, demonstrating the big-play ability that Seattle’s coaching staff hopes to see more of in the regular season.
Backup Quarterbacks Take Over
After Smith’s impressive series, backup quarterback Sam Howell took the reins for Seattle. Howell completed 6 of 9 passes for 45 yards, but a 73-yard touchdown pass to Cody White was negated by a penalty, denying the Seahawks another big play. On the other hand, kicker Jason Myers showed he is ready for the regular season, connecting on field goals of 58, 51, and 47 yards.
For the Browns, Jameis Winston started at quarterback, playing the first two series before Dorian Thompson-Robinson took over for the rest of the first half. Thompson-Robinson completed 11 of 20 passes for 115 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jamari Thrash. Tyler Huntley played the second half for Cleveland, completing 17 of 22 passes for 146 yards and three touchdowns, including two to Michael Woods II.
Injuries and Ejections
The Seahawks faced some injury concerns during the game. Outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, who missed most of last season with a torn pectoral muscle, was shaken up after being chop-blocked by Browns guard Wyatt Teller and blocked high by Jerome Ford. Although Nwosu was able to walk to the locker room, his status will be closely monitored.
Seattle also lost backup cornerback Artie Burns to a left foot/ankle injury. Burns, who was expected to provide important depth in the Seahawks’ secondary, was carted off the field in the first half.
Cleveland running back D’Onta Foreman exited the game in the first half with a rib injury and did not return. Foreman had previously suffered a neck injury earlier in training camp, adding to the Browns’ injury concerns.
In a heated moment during the second quarter, Cleveland linebacker Winston Reid was ejected after being flagged for unnecessary roughness. Reid appeared to lead with his helmet on a hit to Seattle wide receiver Easop Winston Jr., resulting in his ejection from the game.
What’s Next?
Both teams now turn their attention to the regular season. The Cleveland Browns will open their campaign at home against the Dallas Cowboys on September 8. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks will also begin their season on September 8, hosting the Denver Broncos in what promises to be an exciting matchup to kick off the Mike Macdonald era in Seattle.