Five thoughts on the Browns preseason win against Tampa Bay

Aug 29, 2015; Tampa, FL, USA;Cleveland Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson (39) works out prior to the game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

While injured players Dwayne Bowe, Duke Johnson, Joe Haden and Tashaun Gipson, among others, returned to the field, it was another night of injuries for the Browns.

The most distressing where the concussions that put Johnson and Pierre Desir out of the game. In addition, Gaines became the latest Cleveland player to be hit with a soft-tissue injury as he left the game with a groin problem.

“If you were to say the biggest downer of the night, that would be it.” – Mike Pettine on Duke Johnson’s concussion

It was the first game action of the preseason for Johnson and Desir, and to see them go out was frustrating. They are players the Browns are going to count on this fall, and they need as much playing time as possible to get ready. But now with both suffering concussions, Johnson on a brutal hit while trying to catch a poorly thrown ball from McCown, and Desir on a borderline cheap shot block from a Tampa wide receiver, it is unlikely that we will see either player again until the season opener.

The same may be true of Gaines, who has been working hard to take advantage of his opportunities during practice and the preseason.

“I think he got a taste of some success and I think that fed him. It is a confidence thing,” Pettine said of the rookie from Louisville. “When you’re confident, that elevates your play. He got a taste of success and I think it validated, ‘hey, I think I can do this.’ We knew he was a gifted kid, but we needed to get him in and get him coached up and to his credit he has responded to it and it has showed.”

Next: Travis Benjamin comes up special