Hogan makes case for Browns roster spot
Former Stanford quarterback Kevin Hogan made his final push for making the Cleveland Browns roster as a backup. Hogan started the third period of the Browns’ 25-0 exhibition victory over the host Chicago Bears on Thursday night and went 13-of-18 for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
The second-year quarterback hit a wide-open Randall Telfer for a 51-yard TD late in the quarter and threw a 21yarder to Jordan Leslie early in the fourth as the Browns cruised to the lopsided win to go 4-0 in the preseason for the first time in 31 years.
“It’s not up to me,” Hogan said when asked if he thinks he did enough to make the team. “I focus on what I can control. I thought I did a good job with limited reps. I showed that I can ... put some points on the board, and whatever happens, happens.”
No. 2 overall draft pick Mitchell Trubisky got an opportunity to start for the Bears but did nothing but hand off as Chicago went three-and-out on its first three drives, drawing boos from restless fans. The rookie went 2-of-5 for 10 yards against the team that drafted defensive end Myles Garrett first.
Giants 40, Patriots 38: Aldrick Rosas hit a 48-yard field goal as time expired and visiting New York scored 34 points in the first half. But New England outscored the Giants 24-3 over the final 29 minutes before Rosas’ field goal to salvage a night in which Geno Smith and Josh Johnson each had touchdown passes. Patriots third-stringer Jacoby Brissett threw for 341 yards and four touchdowns.
Steelers 17, Panthers 14: Rookie Joshua Dobbs led visiting Pittsburgh 53 yards on five plays in 43 seconds and scored on a 1-yard run with 2 seconds left. Dobbs, the Steelers’ third-string quarterback, finished 16-of-23 for 212 yards, including a 58-yard touchdown pass to Justin Hunter.
Broncos 30, Cardinals 2: Quarterback Kyle Sloter bounced back from two bad plays to cap a perfect preseason for host Denver, but his fate is still among many big decisions awaiting general manager John Elway as he trims his roster.
Packers 24, Rams 10: Quarterback Brett Hundley, Aaron Rodgers’ backup, lowered his right shoulder into a defender near the goal line and barreled into the end zone for a 13-yard touchdown for host Green Bay.
Chiefs 30, Titans 6: Firstround pick Patrick Mahomes II threw for 183 yards and a touchdown for host Kansas City. Tennessee opens at home against the Raiders Sept. 10.
Drafted 16th overall, Baltimore cornerback Marlon Humphrey forced a fumble, broke up a pass and made four tackles as the Ravens beat host New Orleans 14-13.
Rookie Dede Westbrook, a fourth-round draft pick from Oklahoma, returned from an injury with six catches for 115 yards and a touchdown, all in the first half, to help Jacksonville beat host Atlanta 13-7.
Jakeem Grant caught four passes for 141 yards and a touchdown as Miami beat host Minnesota 30-9.
Josh Harvey-Clemons returned an interception 41 yards for a touchdown and Dustin Hopkins kicked two long field goals to help Washington finish an unbeaten preseason with a 13-10 win over host Tampa Bay.
Phillip Walker’s fourthquarter 29-yard touchdown pass to Justice Liggins was enough to give host Indianapolis a 7-6 win over Cincinnati.
Josh McCown, 38, took a shot to his chest and had the wind knocked out of him after completing a pass in the opening quarter, giving the Jets a scare as New York beat visiting Philadelphia 16-10.
Rookie quarterback Nathan Peterman continued making his offseason-long case to secure the backup job, finishing 9-of-11 for 81 yards as Buffalo beat visiting Detroit 27-17. Elliott hearing ends: Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott’s hearing on the appeal of his six-game suspension over a domestic violence case has ended after 2½ days. According to the labor agreement, arbitrator Harold Henderson must rule on the NFL’s punishment "as soon as practicable." The Cowboys must cut their roster to 53 players by Saturday, and putting Elliott on the restricted list would give them an extra spot.
The 2016 rushing leader was suspended after the league concluded he used physical force last summer against his then-girlfriend. Prosecutors didn’t pursue the allegations, citing conflicting evidence, and Elliott has denied them.