Evaluating the Cleveland Browns at the quarter mark

Sep 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Travis Benjamin (11) jumps over Tennessee Titans punter Brett Kern (6) on a punt return for a touchdown during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Thumbs up: Travis Benjamin and Gary Barnidge

Who says the Browns don’t have playmakers in the passing game?

Benjamin, showing that he is fully recovered from his injury in 2013, already has a career-high 328 receiving yards and leads the team with four touchdown receptions. He is also more comfortable as a punt returner, averaging 17.8 yards per return, and without his punt return touchdown against the Titans, no one would be talking about Manziel being a “winning quarterback.”

Barnidge has developed a nice chemistry with McCown, catching a six passes in each of the past two games, and is currently tied for the team lead with 16 receptions, and is second in both receiving yards (235) and receiving touchdowns (two).

Thumbs down: Dwayne Bowe and Rob Housler

Signed in the off-season to help the passing attack, Bowe and Housler have instead been the second comings of Brian Robiskie as they have combined for zero receptions and zero yards. (A common stat line for Robiskie when he was with the Browns).

Bowe has been inactive in two of the first four games, and Housler may as well have been inactive, as neither have done much of anything to warrant playing time.

It’s gotten to the point where Bowe and Housler are in a race to see which one will be released first.

Next: The Offensive Line