The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Running lane opens for Hilliard
Trade leads to more playing time for second-year back Duke who?
In their preseason opener against the Redskins on Aug. 8 at FirstEnergy Stadium, the Browns wasted no time demonstrating how secondyear running back Dontrell Hilliard looms large in the plan to move forward without Duke Johnson.
Johnson is the disgruntled fourth-year running back who asked to be traded when the Browns signed free agent halfback Kareem Hunt in February. He was dealt to the Texans on Aug. 8 for a conditional fourthround pick in the 2020 draft.
That choice moves to the third round if Johnson is active in 10 games this season for the Texans.
Hilliard was signed last year as an undrafted free agent out of Tulane, where he ran for 2.948 yards and scored 34 touchdowns in four seasons.
Throughout the current training camp, with Johnson sidelined by a hamstring injury, Hilliard practiced hard every day and raised his stock. He also showed well previously in mini-camps, earning endorsements from first-year Browns coach Freddie Kitchens and new running backs Stump Mitchell.
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Hilliard was a major contributor to the Browns’ impressive opening drive against Redskins.
On consecutive plays, he gathered in swing passes from quarterback Baker Mayfield and turned up field for gains of 14 yards on each reception. Mayfield connected with wide receiver Rashard Higgins on a 24-yard TD pass on the play after the second of Hilliard’s receptions.
Hilliard was used throughout the first half at running back and as the punt and kickoff returner. He totaled 91 yards on 15 touches, gaining 19 yards on nine rushes, 34 yards on three pass receptions, 21 yards on one kickoff return and 17 yards on two punt returns.
An otherwise solid effort by the 24-year-old Louisiana native included a lost fumble.
With just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter, the Browns were on Washington’s 1-yard line when Hilliard took a handoff from back-up quarterback Drew Stanton. After the ball was stripped from Hilliard’s grasp it was recovered by Washington linebacker Cassanova McKinzy.
In four seasons with the Browns, Johnson rushed for 1,286 yards and five touchdowns on 299 carries. He caught 235 passes for 2,170 yards and eight touchdowns.
The trade of Johnson and Hunt’s suspension for the first eight games of the regular season for a February 2018 incident at a Cleveland hotel opens up playing time for Hilliard behind starting halfback Nick Chubb.
Hunt, the former Willoughby South High School and University of Toledo standout, led the NFL with 1,327 rushing yards as a rookie with the Chiefs in 2017.