The Browns will be without rookie TE Martin Rucker for at least the next six weeks after he had surgery on his knee to repair a torn meniscus.  This hurts the Browns who had a lot of plans for Rucker which would have effected where Kellen Winslow lined up.  Rucker also looked great in his NFL debut catching 5 passes for 70 yards (14.0 avg) in the Browns first preseason game against the Jets last week.  At least tight end is a deep position for the Browns as Steve Heiden and Darnell Dinkins will pick up the slack until Rucker is ready to play again.

The Browns have cut Gary Baxter as they have come to the realization that he would never be the player he was before he came to Cleveland.  Baxter ruptured tendons in both of his knees on the same play a couple of years ago and he has never really recovered from it despite spending endless hours in rehab.  Baxter played 3 season for the Browns but he only appeared in 8 games (all starts) in which he made 43 tackles, has defensed 3 passes and had 3 interceptions.  It’s a shame that Baxter couldn’t stay healthy because the Browns could use the help at CB this season.

The defense and special teams let the Browns down last night in the preseason opener.  The Browns allowed two TDs to WR David Clowney (70, 71 yards) which is just flat out unacceptable…..preseason or not.  They also allowed a 62-yard punt return to rookie CB Dwight Lowery in the 4th quarter which cost them the game.  The Browns did hold the Jets to 59 yards rushing on 19 carries (3.1 ypc) which was pretty impressive.  But, the pass defense had a lot of leaks last night.  The Jets completed 18 of 26 passes for 283 yards.  The Browns pass defense has a lot to work on before September comes.

Derek Anderson opened up the game for the Browns and he played pretty well.  He completed 4 of 5 passes for 20 yards including a 2-yard TD pass to Braylon Edwards.  Brady Quinn followed Anderson in the game and he was effective.  Quinn completed 13 of 17 passes for 133 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 interception.  Ken Dorsey finished up the game for the Browns and he was pathetic.  He completed only 8 of 26 passes for 139 yards with 0 TD passes and 2 interceptions.  His best play was his only run of the game which went for 16 yards.  Jerome Harrison led the Browns in rushing with 31 yards on 8 carries (3.9 ypc).  Jason Wright only rushed for 17 yards on 7 carries (2.4 ypc) but he scored a TD.  Rookie TE Martin Rucker led the Browns with 5 catches for 70 yards (14.0 avg).  WR Travis Wilson also had a solid game with 3 grabs for 58 yards (19.3 avg).  Rookie Paul Hubbard pitched in with 2 catches for 49 yards (24.5 avg).  The Browns should not have lost this game based on the play of the offense.  The Browns rushed for 107 yards on 29 carries (3.7 ypc) last night.  They also completed 25 of 48 passes for 275 yards.  It’s hard to fathom how the Browns could lose a game in which they had possession of the football for 37:19 but they did.