4 Takeaways: Cleveland Browns practice featured a struggling passing game

3. B.J. Goodson making plays

The Cleveland linebacking corps has been dealing with a lot of criticism this offseason. After releasing Christian Kirksey and allowing Joe Schobert to walk in free agency, their depth has been in question. This led to some harsh words from Mack Wilson who claimed the linebackers would prove the doubters wrong.

Sadly, Wilson then was dealt a major blow as he hyperextended his knee. The team is hopeful he can return at some point this season but there’s no guarantee. Without him, the team needs someone to step up, and on Saturday, that someone was veteran B.J. Goodson.

A free-agent signing this offseason, Goodson spent last year with the Green Bay Packers. There he had nine starts in 15 games and record a 37 tackles. His best days as a pro were during the two seasons prior to that when he was a starter for the New York Giants. He had 53 tackles in just seven games in 2017 and another 61 tackles and two interceptions in 2018.

In the Browns’ latest practice, Goodson made it into the highlight reels as he recorded a leaping interception on a pass from Baker Mayfield to Austin Hooper. Mayfield was rolling out and probably threw an ill-advised pass, but Goodson still had an athletic play and made the quarterback pay for his mistake. Those are the kind of plays the linebackers in Cleveland need to make in order to keep this defense afloat.