Browns’ Brissett making strides in preparing for opener

CLEVELAND − Jacoby Brissett’s first start as the Browns quarterback came with arguably the five best offensive players standing on the sideline.

No Nick Chubb or Kareem Hunt to carry the ball. No Joel Bitonio or Jack Conklin to block. No Amari Cooper to catch the ball.

For Brissett, that wasn’t an issue. “I am fine with how it went,” Brissett said following the 21-20 preseason finale loss to the Chicago Bears.

As far as statistics go, it was an ordinary performance, completing 13 of 23 passes for 109 yards with an interception in six first-half possessions.

But there was more to it than just raw numbers as far as Brissett was concerned.

“Getting in and out of the huddle was one of the biggest things that we wanted to do,” he said. “Getting up to the line of scrimmage, making the calls, seeing the defense and seeing the structure of the defense, I thought that went well. Obviously, I knew where I was going with the ball at times and seeing it well. Like I said, it was a good step in the right direction.”

General manager Andrew Berry spoke at halftime of the television broadcast Saturday and made two things clear: One is that he liked what he saw in the small sample size of Brissett, and the other is that there’s no doubt help at receiver is the team’s priority No. 1 between now and the opener.

“Jacoby did a nice job in the first half,” Berry said. “Made good decisions. Delivered the ball accurately. Obviously, we’ve got to help him out a little bit at the skill positions.”

Twice before, in 2017 and 2019 with the Indianapolis Colts, Brissett has gone into a season opener knowing he’s going to be the starter.