Jets Drop Hall of Fame Game to Browns in Canton

Second-half slumber sends Gang Green to loss in NFL Preseason opener

The New York Jets lost the first game of the Aaron Rodgers era albeit the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback remained on the sidelines for the duration of Thursday night's preseason opener.

Playing a long pass away from the Pro Football HOF building that will someday feature Rodgers's bronze bust, the Cleveland Browns came from behind to defeat the Jets, 21-16, in the first game on the 2023 NFL Preseason schedule.

After the Jets jumped out to 16-7 halftime lead, the Browns grounded Gang Green's offense for the final 30:00. Cleveland turned the tide with a third-quarter touchdown run from Demetric Felton and a fourth-quarter scoring strike from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson to Austin Watkins.

Celebrating his 24th birthday, Zach Wilson was Gang Green's QB1 for the entire first quarter. 

The former No. 2 overall draft pick went 3-of-5 passing for 65 yards, highlighted by a 57-yard connection that led to the first of three Greg Zuerlein first-half field goals.

"Zach did a good job," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh. "He was poised. Looked comfortable in the pocket, delivered the ball on schedule, and definitely something to build on."

With the Jets pinned deep in their own end on their second possession of the game, Wilson flipped the field by unleashing a bomb down the left sideline. 

Dropping back on 2nd-and-8, Wilson launched a nice deep ball that traveled about 45 yards through the air and hit Malik Taylor in stride. The 57-yard gain set Gang Green up with a first down at the Browns' 36.

"I'm very grateful for him [Rodgers]," said Wilson, who credited the four-time NFL MVP for calling the long pass, following the game. "He helps me more than he needs to, so I'm very grateful."

Zuerlein, who re-signed with the team in March, split the uprights from 54 yards and 44 yards to give the Jets a 6-0 lead after 15 minutes of play. He hit a 53-yarder as the second-quarter clock expired, bumping Gang Green's advantage to 16-7 at the break.

"He's definitely an asset," said Saleh about the 35-year-old placekicker.

Zuerlein's third three-pointer of the first half was made possible by a 45-yard kickoff return by undrafted rookie Xavier Gipson. The Jets' drive started at their own 46-yard line with 31 seconds left on the clock.

The Jets turned two first-half takeaways into 10 points. 

After linebacker Jamien Sherwood forced a fumble and Javelin Guidry recovered at the Browns' 31-yard line, Zuerlein cashed in on a 44-yard field goal with 22 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.

Linebacker Chazz Surratt struck fewer than 5:00 into the second quarter. The third-year pro intercepted a first-down pass by Cleveland's Kellen Mond and returned it 13 yards to the opponent's 27. 

Gang Green punched it into the end zone three plays later when rookie running back Israel Abanikanda reached the ball inside the front left pylon on a 10-yard carry. After the ensuing extra point, the Jets held a 13-0 advantage with 9:04 to go until halftime.

EXTRA POINTS

• There was a short delay, which lasted approximately 12 minutes, when a portion of the stadium's lights went out in between third and fourth quarters.

• Chris Streveler started the fourth quarter at quarterback for the Jets. He finished 1-of-7 passing for 9 yards and one interception. Streveler had one 7-yard rush that moved the chains.

• The Jets were plagued by penalties at different points on Thursday. After being penalized seven times the in first half, the Green & White committed three infractions during the Browns' third-quarter TD drive that cut their deficit to 16-14.

• Jet's linebacker Hamsah Nasirildeen suffered an injury while making a tackle on the game's second play from scrimmage. He was ruled OUT shortly after. Following the game, Saleh said Nasirildeen experienced a "stinger."

• Undrafted rookie WR Jason Brownlee, who was injured while making a jaw-dropping catch in practice on Tuesday, was active on Thursday night in Canton. He made two receptions for 17 yards and was targeted five times. Brownlee drew a third-quarter pass interference call that advanced the ball 23 yards to Cleveland's 38. 

• Gipson muffed a punt at his own 5-yard line in the first quarter, but the ball trickled out of bounds to keep possession in the Jets' favor.

• The official attendance was 19,020.

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