Chicago Bears salvage a victory in final preseason game
The Chicago Bears used an excellent defensive effort including some impressive performances by young players hoping for roster spots and more playing time to defeat the Browns 21-7 in a battle of winless teams in a preseason finale at rainy Cleveland.
A muffed punt by Bears wide receiver B.J. Daniels gave the Browns the ball at the Bears' 18 late in the first quarter. The Browns found the end zone one play after Bears first-round draft pick Leonard Floyd fought off a block to drop Isaiah Crowell for a 3-yard loss on a play that started at the 1-yard line.
Earlier in that drive, playing against the Browns' first-team offense, fourth-round cornerback Deiondre Hall more than held his own. First, he broke up a Robert Griffin III pass intended for Terrelle Pryor. Three plays later, RGIII went to former Pro Bowler Josh Gordon in the end zone, but Hall's tight coverage prevented a completion.
Jacoby Glenn — who, like Hall, has gotten first-team reps because of injuries to Kyle Fuller, Tracy Porter and Bryce Callahan — came up big as well. The second-year player, who was undrafted in 2015, intercepted a pass from former Bears quarterback Josh McCown intended for Gordon.
Glenn drew a pass-interference penalty against Gordon, but he was tested frequently by the Browns and won more battles than he lost, including airtight coverage on a deep ball to Gordon, that was wiped out by a Bears penalty.
With the top three corners iffy for the regular-season opener, Hall and Glenn could play vital roles vs. the Houston Texans on Sept. 11.
Bears backup quarterback Brian Hoyer struggled earlier in the preseason with a 44.4 passer rating before starting Thursday night. But he moved the second-team offense, which included starting wide receiver Kevin White. Hoyer played the entire first half and completed 12 of 16 passes for 112 yards for a 93.8 passer rating.
On the Bears' second possession, Cam Meredith, battling for a roster spot, had 2 catches for 18 yards, to help a 30-yard field goal by Robbie Gould, who missed 2 extra points. Meredith, the second-year player from Illinois State and St. Joseph High School had 6 catches for 46 yards.
On the Bears' first possession of the second quarter, White caught 2 Hoyer passes for 29 yards and drew a 26-yard pass-interference penalty that set up Ka'Deem Carey's 1-yard TD run. White finished with 4 catches for 57 yards after catching just 3 passes for 12 yards in the first three games.
The seventh overall pick in 2015, White missed his entire rookie season following shin surgery but is being counted on this year.
“I felt very confident,” White said. “I was trying to get into a rhythm and focus and do what I have to do. I wanted to get the ball in my hands, get a little confidence and knock the rust off.”
Fifth-round rookie running back Jordan Howard rushed for 107 yards on 16 carries (6.7-yard average), including a 16-yard TD run. He also caught 2 passes for 33 yards.