GREEN BAY, WIS.: A few days ago, it looked as if Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor would miss the beginning of the preseason for the second consecutive summer.
But fortunately for Pryor, his transition from quarterback to receiver was not interrupted this time around.
Pryor started the Browns’ preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers on Friday night at Lambeau Field despite his right calf bothering him during Wednesday’s practice. He provided a bright spot during a lackluster outing for the first-string offense, catching two passes for 57 yards. Pryor beat cornerback Damarious Randall on a go route and hauled in a 49-yard pass from quarterback Robert Griffin III on the offense’s first play.
“We came out right off the top and we wanted to get a big play,” Pryor said. “It was a great throw. We had the exact defense that we wanted. It was cover one, press man. I got off of press, beat the guy and just made a play on the ball.
“I’m a big visionary guy. I always think about myself before I go to sleep, when I’m taking naps. I think about making big plays. I kind of thought about that play before I made it.”
Later, on third-and-6 at the Packers’ 27, he caught an 8-yard pass on an out route to give the Browns a first down. The series ended two plays later with Griffin throwing an interception.
After most of the offense’s starters left the game after two series, Pryor played one more. Backup quarterback Josh McCown targeted him in the end zone, but the throw was out of bounds.
Coach Hue Jackson pulled Pryor out of Wednesday’s slow-paced practice because he noticed him laboring. But Jackson thought Pryor would be fine, and he turned out to be correct.
“My legs were just dead, man. Even right now they’re just tired,” Pryor said. “... That’s all that was. My legs were dead.”
Pryor had another scare Friday, when his left hand was X-rayed after the game.
“It’s fine. The X-rays just came back negative,” said Pryor, adding he thought he banged his hand on a helmet while blocking a defender.
Pryor has been one of the most pleasant surprises of training camp thus far. He’s vastly improved as a receiver this summer compared to last year, when he switched from quarterback.
“You want to be a big-play offense and T.P.’s done some great things all throughout camp and the spring, and it translated to game day,” Griffin said. “It was good to see him go make a play on the ball and really show up on game day for us. That was awesome.”
A nagging hamstring injury last summer interfered with the Pryor’s transition to receiver and kept him from playing in three of the four preseason games. He still made the initial 53-man roster but was cut a few days before the 2015 regular-season opener. The Browns re-signed him in December, and he’s flourished this offseason.
Last week in the Orange and Brown Scrimmage at Ohio Stadium, Pryor jumped over cornerback K’Waun Williams for a 5-yard touchdown from Griffin and burned defensive back Mikell Everette on a go route to haul in a 75-yard scoring strike from McCown.
“I think Terrelle is growing each and every day,” Jackson said. “But as a unit we need to continue to get better.”
Browns inactives
There were no surprises among the Browns players who sat out other than Williams. A team spokesman said Williams had to deal with a personal matter.
The others who were idle: wide receivers Corey Coleman (hamstring), Andrew Hawkins (hamstring), Josh Gordon (quadriceps) and Dennis Parks (shoulder); cornerbacks Joe Haden (hamstring) and Trey Caldwell (hamstring); tight end Seth DeValve (hamstring); and defensive linemen John Hughes (personal reason) and Nile Lawrence-Stample (shoulder).
Coleman, Gordon, Haden and Hughes are considered starters.
Packers inactives
The Browns’ starting defense received its first trial run of the preseason against a third-string quarterback. Undrafted rookie Joe Callahan started with two-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers and his primary backup, Brett Hundley, taking the night off.
Meanwhile, the Browns’ starting offense faced a Packers defense without its four starting linebackers. Outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers and inside linebackers Jake Ryan and Sam Barrington sat out.
The other Packers who were sidelined were wide receivers Randall Cobb, Jeff Janis and Jordy Nelson; cornerback Makinton Dorleant; centers Jacob Flores and Corey Linsley; defensive tackle Demetris Anderson; offensive tackles Kyle Murphy and Josh James; long snapper Jesse Schmitt; and tight end Mitchell Henry.
Building camaraderie
Browns tight end Gary Barnidge is all about team bonding.
In the past, the Pro Bowler has organized paintball outings and trips to Cedar Point with teammates.
Barnidge’s latest attempt to build camaraderie involves a catchphrase from an assistant coach and a Northeast Ohio apparel company.
Barnidge bought “Gary and the kids” T-shirts for himself, the team’s other six tight ends and tight ends coach Greg Seamon, a team spokesman said. The crew recently posed for photographs in the shirts, and Barnidge posted them on social media.
Seamon called his group of tight ends “Gary and the kids” when he spoke to reporters Aug. 2. The position is comprised of ninth-year veteran Barnidge, 30; second-year player E.J. Bibbs, 24; first-year players Connor Hamlett, 24, and Randall Telfer, 24; and rookies Seth DeValve, 23, J.P. Holtz, 22, and David Reeves, 23. Aside from Barnidge, only Bibbs has appeared in an NFL regular-season game (he’s played in seven).
Barnidge bought the shirts from GV Art + Design, which has stores in Lakewood and Willoughby.
In his post on Instagram, Barnidge wrote: “Thanks to @gvartwork for making the great shirts. Just a little tag Coach Seamon gave the TE group. No reason not to embrace it haha.”
Barnidge played Friday despite undergoing sports hernia surgery June 2 and being limited in camp.
Extra points
• Asked about an ESPN report that he had his shoulder X-rayed, running back Isaiah Crowell said, “I’m good. I’m perfect.”
• Patrick Murray has a leg up in his kicking duel against incumbent Travis Coons. Not only has Murray been performing better in camp, but he received the first opportunity to kick a field goal against the Packers. He made the 46-yard attempt to give the Browns a 5-3 lead with 9:05 left in the second quarter.
• Barnidge, left tackle Joe Thomas, inside linebacker Demario Davis, cornerback Tramon Williams and punter Andy Lee served as captains for the Browns.
• The Browns won the coin toss with Thomas calling tails. But Jackson deferred, allowing the Packers to receive the opening kickoff. Jackson’s predecessor, former Browns coach Mike Pettine, deferred every time he had the chance.
• Browns offensive lineman Austin Pasztor started at right tackle.
• Wide receiver Taylor Gabriel started opposite Pryor.
• Rookie defensive end Carl Nassib tallied a sack in the second quarter.