Rookie receiver Callaway struggles to find consistency

Lost fumble against Texans erased long gain in third quarter.

Wide receiver AntoBEREA — nio Callaway has been chasing consistent production throughout his roller-coaster ride of a

SUNDAY’S GAME

Panthers at Browns, 1 p.m., Fox, 95.3, 101.1 WZLR rookie season.

The fourth-round draft pick of the Browns watched it slip from his grasp again Sunday in a 29-13 loss to the Houston Texans.

On third-and-12 at the Browns 23, Callaway made a contested catch over the middle against safety Andre Hal and sprinted away from the defense. But as cornerback Aaron Colvin closed in on him, Callaway drifted to his right, and safety Justin Reed forced him to fumble at the 6. Colvin recovered the fumble in the end zone.

What should have been a 77-yard touchdown with 3:35 left in the third quarter went down the drain, and the Browns trailed 26-7 instead of making things interesting.

“I was mad. I was pissed,” Callaway said Thursday as the Browns (4-7-1) prepared for Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers (6-6). “Right there, we had an opportunity to close the lead. I mean, it was a start. That wouldn’t have put us right there, but it was a start, and I just want to make those plays when I can.”

Two snaps earlier, Callaway had beaten cornerback Shareece Wright for a 76-yard touchdown reception, but the play was negated by left tackle Greg Robinson’s holding penalty.

“I told him, ‘You’re putting it on tape,’ that you can make the big plays, that you can catch the ball