Live Updates: Packers Beat Browns 23-10 to Open Preseason

Keep track of all the action from Saturday’s preseason opener between the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns. Jordan Love will start for the Packers while Jameis Winston will attack Jeff Hafley’s defense.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love throws a touchdown pass to Dontayvion Wicks to start the preseason game at the Browns. / Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers are kicking off the preseason at the Cleveland Browns on Saturday. How will Jordan Love do in his preseason debut? How will Sean Clifford and Michael Pratt perform? Will Jeff Hafley’s defense have a strong start?

Follow along all day for live updates.

Final Score

Here is our early game story from a 23-10 victory.

Fourth Quarter

Packers 23, Browns 10 (0:00)

The Packers ran out the final 5 minutes. Undrafted rookie running back Jarveon Howard ran eight times for 44 yards on the final drive, which ended with Michael Pratt taking a knee on first-and-goal at the 3.

Packers 23, Browns 10 (5:08 remaining)

Running back Aidan Robbins, all 237 pounds of him, crashed in from the 1 to finally give the Browns a touchdown. On a third-and-1 early in the drive, Brenton Cox missed Dorian Thompson-Robinson on what should have been a series-killing sack. Instead, Thompson-Robinson threw it away. On the next play, he hurdled safety Tyler Coyle for the first down. A third-and-10 completion to Ahmarean Brown against cornerback L.J. Davis set up the touchdown.

Third Quarter

Packers 23, Browns 3 (6:35 remaining)

Anders Carlson improved to 2-of-2 on field goals by sneaking a 33-yarder inside the left upright. The big plays: rookie quarterback Michael Pratt hitting Grant DuBose for 12 on a slant and Emanuel Wilson running for 25. Wilson broke a tackle, which delivered 18 yards after contact, thanks in part to Pratt’s block on linebacker Mohamoud Diabate.

Injury update: Rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring) is out.

Packers 20, Browns 3 (10:23 remaining)

The Browns went three-and-out. On third-and-2, a swing pass to John Kelly went nowhere because rookie cornerback Kalen King, as has been the case throughout training camp, showed a nose for the ball and the acceleration to make the play. King tackled Kelly for a loss of 1 and forced a punt.

Michael Pratt is in at quarterback for the Packers.

Packers 20, Browns 3 (12:10 remaining)

On the first play from scrimmage, the Browns completed a little dump-off pass to running back John Kelly. Kelly had room to run and picked up a first down but coughed it up when rookie Evan Williams placed his right shoulder on the football. The ball popped free and was picked up by linebacker Kristian Welch at the Browns’ 38.

A 17-yard completion to tight end Joel Wilson helped set up a 35-yard field goal by Greg Jospeh.

Halftime

Packers 17, Browns 3 (0:00 remaining)

Sean Clifford’s 2-minute drill helped the Packers extend their lead to 14. The Packers took over at the 36 with 58 seconds remaining. Clifford hit Bo Melton for 12 and MarShawn Lloyd for 2 before clocking the ball with 16 seconds to go. Clifford extended the play to the left and threw a superb pass to Grant DuBose, who got open on a post-corner route and made a toe-tapping catch in front of safety Chris Edmonds for a gain of 28. Clifford chucked two passes out of bounds to drain most of the remaining seconds. Anders Carlson’s 46-yard field goal hooked between the posts.

Clifford is 9-of-17 passing for 94 yards, though three of the incompletions were intentional on the last drive. DuBose has four receptions for 54 yards, Emanuel Wilson has seven rushes for 36 yards, and Lukas Van Ness has one sack and three tackles for losses.

Second Quarter

Packers 14, Browns 3 (58 seconds remaining)

The Packers will get one more chance. On third-and-7, Lukas Van Ness missed a sack on Tyler Huntley but defensive tackle Colby Wooden cleaned up the mess. On the first play of the drive, safety Anthony Johnson delivered a wicked blow to guard Javion Cohen to set up Wooden for a tackle at the line of scrimmage.

Packers 14, Browns 3 (2:48 remaining)

Emanuel Wilson plowed in from the 5 for touchdown. The run was right up the middle, but receivers Grant DuBose and Bo Melton and tight end Ben Sims had a hand in the run, as did left tackle Andre Dillard. On fourth-and-3 at the start of the drive, Sean Clifford hit a backpedaling Grant DuBose for a gain of 13. Moments later, Clifford found DuBose for 14 more. DuBose was wide open against Kahlef Hailassie on both. Wilson carried seven times on the drive, including a 9-yard run on a sweep led by Sean Rhyan and Jacob Monk.

.@1kEmanuelWilson scores from five yards out!#GBvsCLE pic.twitter.com/Pw9ZgDVIFg

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 10, 2024

Packers 7, Browns 3 (9:08 remaining)

The Packers got a big stop on fourth-and-4 from the 23. Quarterback Tyler Huntley extended the play to his right. With linebacker Eric Wilson providing late pressure, Huntley’s pass to Ahmarean Brown was incomplete against tight coverage by Robert Rochell.

Wilson, who has had a fantastic camp, was late on an outside run by Pierre strong that gained 6, then missed a tackle on a blitz that resulted in a gain of 9. Then, on third-and-1, Huntley kept the ball on a read option. Brenton Cox had a chance to make the play in the backfield but Huntley broke the tackle for a gain of 7.

First Quarter

Packers 7, Browns 3 (0:00 remaining)

The Packers got one first down in Sean Clifford’s third-and-7 conversion to tight end Joel Wilson, but a false start by left tackle Andre Dillard and a drop by Bo Melton proved too much to overcome. The second quarter will continue with a punt.

Packers 7, Browns 3 (3:20 remaining)

The Browns set up shop on Green Bay’s 46 but the defense made a terrific stand. On second-and-2, Javon Bullard and Lukas Van Ness set the edge as Eric Stokes stopped Pierre Strong for minus-1. On third-and-3, TJ Slaton was a brick wall as Van Ness stopped Strong for minus-1. Offensive pass interference on fourth-and-4 brought in the punt team.

The Packers have gone to the backups. Rookies Javon Bullard and Evan Willams were the safeties. With rookie linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Ty’Ron Hopper out with injuries, undrafted rookie Ralen Goforth entered the lineup.

Packers 7, Browns 3 (5:37 remaining)

It was one and done for Jordan Love. After leading a three-play touchdown drive, Sean Clifford and the backups entered the game. On second-and-1, AJ Dillon got three consecutive carries for minus-1, plus-1 and 0. Dillard didn’t get much push on the pile but the offensive line got none.

The No. 2 line: left tackle Andre Dillard, left guard Royce Newman, center Sean Rhyan, right guard Jacob Monk and right tackle Kadeem Telfort.

Packers 7, Browns 3 (8:46 remaining)

Cade York blasted a 55-yard field goal. The Browns picked up a couple first downs before Devonte Wyatt took over. His immediate pressure set up Lukas Van Ness’ sack, and another pressure forced an errant throw on second down. Quay Walker was all over a third-down checkdown.

With Jaire Alexander out for personal reasons, the secondary consisted of Eric Stokes and Corey Ballentine at corner, Keisean Nixon in the slot and Xavier McKinney and Javon Bullard as the safeties.

Packers 7, Browns 0 (13:38 remaining)

The Packers are off and running. Or throwing. On third-and-5, Jordan Love found receiver Dontayvion Wicks matched against Ronnie Hickman. Love threw a perfect deep ball to Wicks, who caught the ball around the 35 and easily won the race to the goal line. Love’s deep ball has been on point during training camp, and this ball couldn’t have been thrown any better.

THAT IS HOW YOU START A GAME!#GBvsCLE pic.twitter.com/xksM7MV5PR

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 10, 2024

The No. 1 line consisted of left tackle Rasheed Walker, left guard Elgton Jenkins, center Josh Myers, right guard Sean Rhyan and right tackle Andre Dillard. The pass protection was excellent on both passing plays, and the line opened a hole for Josh Jacobs to gain 7 on his lone carry.

Jaire Alexander Among Those Who Won’t Play

Here’s the Packers’ will-not-play list:

Receiver Dimitri Stanley (hamstring), tight ends Tucker Kraft (pectoral) and Tyler Davis (last year’s ACL), offensive linemen Zach Tom (pectoral), Jordan Morgan (shoulder) and Donovan Jennings (knee), cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine (hamstring), defensive lineman Keshawn Banks (groin) and Deslin Alexandre (lower leg), linebackers Edgerrin Cooper (hip) and Ty’Ron Hopper (ankle).

Alexander is out for a personal reason.

How to Watch Packers at Browns

First, here’s how to watch the game. If you live in Wisconsin, it will be easy. The Packers TV Network will have you covered.

If not, you can stream the game or wait for NFL Network’s national rebroadcast on Sunday.

Watered-Down Lineup for Browns

Green Bay’s defense has been excellent throughout training camp. Jeff Hafley’s defense won’t face a big-time test on Saturday, though.

The Browns’ will-not-dress list is a mile long and includes quarterback Deshaun Watson, receivers Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, running back Nick Chubb and offensive linemen Jedrick Wills, Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin.

Here’s their full list.

Veteran quarterback Jameis Winston will start for Cleveland.

Quarterbacks: Jordan Love Will Start

For many players, the preseason is about earning a spot on the roster or carving out his niche on the team. Not for Jordan Love, obviously.

“Jordan Love is not going to be losing his spot anytime soon,” coach Matt LaFleur said this week.

Love – aka the $220 Million Man – will get the start on Saturday, just as he’ll get the start against the Philadelphia Eagles when the season kicks off in 27 days. Still, he’s got work to do following up-and-down start to his training camp.

“I’m excited just to be able to get the feel of the season getting started,” he said this week. “So, get out there, see how long we’re out there. Any time you get to be on the field, I think it’s a good opportunity to work on things, get better, things like that.”

Not that Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is going to throw all of his extensive blitz package at Love, but he will present some new challenges after throwing at Jeff Hafley’s defense since May.

“I think that’s going to be very helpful because we’ve been seeing our defense and they do a lot of different stuff,” Love said. “But to be able to see different looks, different guys out there, different disguises as much as we can see before the season is going to make us better. As many banked reps as we can get before the season starts is going to help us.”

What would be a successful day – other than coming out of the game healthy?

“Going down and scoring quickly, I think that would be nice,” he said. “Being able to put a drive together, not going three-and-out, just having a successful drive and scoring a touchdown would be nice.”

It’s a thing of beauty. pic.twitter.com/2qjrwCnrOU

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) August 10, 2024

Quarterbacks: Sean Clifford In Relief

Whenever Jordan Love exits, Sean Clifford will come on in relief and likely get most of the remaining snaps.

Clifford, who went to high school in Cincinnati, admitted that there he will feel a touch of nervousness as he enters his second preseason.

“I think everybody gets nervous,” he said. “I think they’re probably lying if they ever say they’re not and if they aren’t nervous. I always say nerves mean you care. Like you actually really care about what’s going on.

“So, I always get a little nervous but, once you’re out there, it’s back to 11-on-11 and it’s just an absolutely blast. Taking it in when you’re running out of the tunnel and you’re in the National Football League, it’s a great feeling, representing so many different people.”

Clifford as a fifth-round pick last year made the roster and won the No. 2 job because of his play in the preseason. This year, he’s overcome a slow start to camp and gotten himself into a bit of a groove.

What does he want to accomplish in this preseason?

“Probably just to continue what I’ve kind of found in the last two weeks for me personally,” he said. “I thought the first week, just with everything going on and getting 1s reps [in place of Love] and how fast the game was going, there was a lot of overthinking.

“There were a lot of thoughts from the OTA time and minicamp where I almost like saw a hitch in my arm of overthought. And now the last two weeks, Family Night, kind of capped it for me. I feel like I’m back and I feel like I’m able to spin the ball, really get the ball out quick, see the field really well, and I think it’s a big, big testament to these guys, as well. A lot of trust in the wide receivers, the O-line, just getting back in flow and excited to show that on Saturday.”

Quarterbacks: Michael Pratt the Closer

Michael Pratt, a seventh-rounder in this year’s draft, will replace Clifford and finish the game.

His goal?

“Hust operate, get the offense going, take advantage of opportunities,” he said. “Whatever’s there, lead the team and do what I can.”

After three weeks of OTAs, a two-day minicamp and 13 practices at training camp, Pratt said the game is slowing down. He’s always looked poised in the pocket but he’s started making more plays downfield.

“I think rookie minicamp and early OTAs, it was definitely trying to learn everything and every single play thinking about formation, motion, protection, concept, footwork; all those kind of things,” Pratt said.

“Just over the course of time, dialing in on the smaller details and being able to get a more full grasp of the whole play and the whole offense has definitely let things slow down, and now I can worry about things more like protections and getting to the right protections, eliminating things on reads based on what I’m seeing from the defense. I’m definitely at the point where I’m able to start playing a little bit faster.”

Like Clifford at Penn State, Pratt had a wealth of experience at Tulane. He was a four-year starter with more than 1,200 career passing attempts.

Reaching the NFL was a goal for most of his life. On Saturday, he will play in his first game – even if it’s only preseason.

“I think just putting on that actual NFL jersey for the first time and having this experience and the opportunity to go out there is something that’s really exciting and fired up to be able to do that,” he said. “Saturday will definitely mean a lot.”

More Green Bay Packers Training Camp News

In 2009, new #Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers had his players blitzing off the bus during the preseason.

How will Jeff Hafley approach the 2024 preseason?

Hafley and the $220 Million Man highlight five things to watch vs. the Browns today. ⬇️https://t.co/qkFsC7w4fb

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) August 10, 2024

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