Cleveland Browns: Studs and duds in fate-sealing Week 17 loss

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CINCINNATI, OHIO – DECEMBER 29: Damion Ratley #18 of the Cleveland Browns celebrates after catching a touchdown pass during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Stud: Damion Ratley

This season has been full of wide receiver talk. Odell Beckham, Jr. was the most discussed receiver because he hasn’t lived up to the expectations the team had when they brought him in and paired him with his best friend Jarvis Landry. There’s also been talk about Rashard Higgins, who was good in 2018 but has hardly seen the field in 2019.

And of course, there was the Antonio Callaway saga. A risky pick due to his off-field issues in college, Callaway was suspended for the first four games of his second season and then released not long after his return as he was facing a 10-game suspension.

Through it all, one name has gone under the radar — Damion Ratley. A sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2018, Ratley has started to show some promise, entering the game with 10 receptions for 136 yards. On Sunday, he finally broke through as he pulled in his first NFL touchdown.

Ratley, who was a burner for the Aggies beat the Bengals secondary and Baker Mayfield threw a dime for a 46-yard touchdown on the opening drive. The young receiver gladly ran to the sidelines clinging to the ball which will make quite the souvenir for him. For the game, Ratley had 64 yards on just two receptions — which was one of the few sparks this offense had.

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