The NFL’s 2023 preseason is underway, the Cleveland Browns coming back to defeat the New York Jets 21-16 on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio. And while the annual Hall of Fame Game – typically a loose affair with spotty play in a game dominated by has-beens and never-will-bes – doesn’t usually provide much good football fodder, this year’s edition had a few juicy morsels to dig into.
With sufficient subplots to explore, why not shake a little rust off the keyboard – while trying to avoid preseason form and the roster bubble here in the digital space – by offering August’s first exhibition winners and losers:
WINNERS
Cleveland: With the Pro Football Hall of Fame not an hour’s drive from “The Land,” the locals came out in droves to enjoy a Brownies victory on a day when the Hall held a celebration of the life of legendary RB Jim Brown, who died in May. And not to bury the lead, but no soon-to-be HOF enshrinee got a bigger ovation than longtime Browns LT Joe Thomas, a six-time All-Pro who toiled for terrible teams yet still showed up to play 10,363 consecutive snaps.
Jets showcase: The NYJ fans were treated to their first glimpse of new QB Aaron Rodgers in a game environment … even if he was in shorts and a t-shirt. But they also were able to celebrate the Hall’s doors opening for CB Darrelle Revis and DL Joe Klecko, all-timers for an NYJ organization that hasn’t had many.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson: The fifth-round quarterback out of UCLA known as “DTR” completed eight of 11 passes for 82 yards, including a 22-yard TD, and rushed six times for 36 more in his Browns debut. Yes, his occasionally electric moments occurred in the second half against bottom-of-the-roster competition, but he started making a case he should climb to the third spot on Cleveland’s depth chart (behind Deshaun Watson and Josh Dobbs) and showed he might have too much talent to stash on the practice squad.
Jets backups: Nice early returns from players who mostly project as reserves as they staked Gang Green to a 16-7 halftime lead. Among them were rookie RB Israel Abanikanda, who scampered for a 10-yard touchdown, and LB Chazz Surratt, who picked off a pass. K Greg Zuerlein was also in midseason form, scoring 10 points, which included field goals from 54, 44 and 53 yards.
DeMarcus Ware: Turns out the same guy who totaled 138½ sacks in a career split between the Cowboys and Broncos – Ware also gets his gold jacket this weekend – is a pretty sweet singer. Ware gave a soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before kickoff in what was surely as nerve-racking moment as he’d had on a football field. He even admitted, “I wasn’t even this nervous during the Super Bowl. This is the most nervous that I have ever been in my life.” You nailed this, D-Ware.
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Aaron Rodgers: He didn’t play, but the Jets’ QB1 continues to wear that ear-to-ear smile that’s been on his face since arriving in New York, saying of his experience during NBC’s telecast: “This has definitely exceeded all my expectations.” He even sent a shoutout to this space. “I love Nate,” said Rodgers. “He’s an incredible guy, he’s got a great wife and … amazing kids. He brings a great energy to work every single day.” (Writer’s note: This comment may have been taken out of context and actually been aimed at Jets offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett…)
Browns’ social media team: Already in midseason form.
Jets first-rounders: LT Mekhi Becton (2020) started, looked fine – and slim – and didn’t get injured. QB Zach Wilson (2021), now Rodgers’ backup, started, appeared comfortable, threw a nifty 57-yard completion to WR Malik Taylor and showed no evidence of the yips that were partially responsible for the team’s pivot to Rodgers in the offseason. And DL Will McDonald IV (2023) displayed flash with a pair of tackles and a quarterback hit in his professional debut.
LOSERS
Jets first-rounders: New York’s 2022 draft class, with CB Sauce Gardner and WR Garrett Wilson both winning Rookie of the Year honors, has helped launch the team in what seems to be a very positive direction. But the mere fact Becton and Wilson played Thursday is highly indicative of how things were going previously.
Kellen Mond: A third-round pick of the Vikings two years ago, but not a favorite of former Minnesota HC Mike Zimmer, Mond is now trying to catch on as a backup to Watson. He started and had an up-and-down night, completing 13 of 19 throws for 92 yards and a TD but serving the bad INT to Surratt on a crossing route. In what might have been his best opportunity to impress, seemed like Mond lost ground to Thompson-Robinson.
Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium: Not the best of nights for the refurbished venue, one of its light banks going dark and causing a 20-minute stoppage between the third and fourth quarters. But, hey, it’s preseason – we prefer blackouts now as opposed to the Super Bowl.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis.
