Browns Hall of Fame Game studs and duds: Dorian Thompson-Robinson provides spark in late win

Thursday night brought us the return of football as the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets took part in the first preseason game of the 2023 season.

The Hall of Fame Game is an extra exhibition contest, so teams rarely put their starters on the field. But that doesn't mean there aren't meaningful snaps — especially for rookies and guys on the roster bubble.

With that being said, here's a look at some of the studs and duds from the Browns first preseason action of the year.

Browns Stud: Tony Fields II, LB

Last year when nearly every linebacker on the roster was injured, Tony Fields II stepped in and played well. He finished with 48 tackles, an interception, and a defensive touchdown.

Now in 2023, he feels like a forgotten man with most eyes focused on the return of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Sione Takitaki, and Anthony Walker. But on Thursday, Fields made sure to remind us that he's a talented player as well.

Fields started the game and was flying all over the place. He had four tackles in the first half as he was decisive and found the ball carrier with ease.

He might not be a starter this year but he should be a special teams ace that can fill in should any injuries occur again in 2023.

Browns Dud: James Hudson III, OT

James Hudson was able to get the start in this one, but things didn’t go his way. On the opening drive alone, he was beaten twice including on a critical third-down play.

Facing a third-and-10 on the New York 24, Hudson was unable to hold off Bryce Huff who beat him with a spin move. Huff then sacked Kellen Mond, setting up a 49-yard field goal which Cade York missed.

Making matters worse, he struggled in the run game as well. When Cleveland did try to run to his side, there was often no push and the defenders were able to close in on the runner in a hurry.

Hudson is currently in a battle with Dawand Jones for the swing tackle job and needs to improve going forward to hold off the rookie fourth-round pick who was on fire in this one.

Browns Stud: John Kelly, Jr., RB

In the first half of the game, the Browns had a total of 153 yards and John Kelly, Jr. was responsible for 77 of those yards.

He gained 42 yards on 10 rushes and added 27 more on four receptions. He even capped off their first scoring drive of the game when he took a dump-off from Kellen Mond and ran it in for a three-yard touchdown.

Kelly is currently fighting for the third running back spot behind Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford. He's going against Demetric Felton and rookie Hassan Hall and was able to put some good plays on film during the game on Thursday night.

Browns Dud: Cade York, K

A fourth-round pick from LSU in 2022, Cade York was supposed to solve the kicking woes for the Browns. That didn’t happen in year one as he missed eight field goals and two extra points as a rookie.

Heading into this season, the focus for new special teams coach Bubba Ventrone was to fix York’s consistency issues. But after this game, they likely still have concerns.

Following a Bryce Huff sack on Kellen Mond, York attempted a 49-yard kick which was wide right — and it never looked good. The ball sailed as though it wasn’t hit cleanly, and it leaves one wondering if York might still be struggling with his mechanics. The questions continued when he made his first extra point by barely sneaking it between the uprights.

Browns Stud: Dawand Jones, OT

While James Hudson struggled early in the game, his fellow starting offensive tackle was putting on a clinic. Dawand Jones, a fourth-round pick from Ohio State, was an exciting pick due to his massive size.

Listed at 6-foot-8 and 374-pounds, Jones is one of the biggest linemen in the entire NFL. And on Thursday, he proved that he can use that size to not only hold off power rushers but is capable of holding his own against speed rushers as well.

Jones handled Bryce Huff as well as first-round pick Will McDonald throughout the first half. He had Cris Collinsworth excited with his play and could very well have been a steal for Cleveland.

Hudson recovered to play better after the first drive but Jones was good from the start and might be ahead of him at this point.

Browns Dud: Anthony Schwartz, WR

One player who has really struggled thus far in his career is Anthony Schwartz. A third-round pick in 2021, Schwartz was added due to his ability to stretch the field with his speed. The only problem is, he’s never been able to develop into anything more than a sprinter who is trying to figure out the NFL game.

Now facing huge odds with several additions at wideout, Schwartz is firmly on the roster bubble — and he did himself no favors on Thursday night. Schwartz got into the game late in the first quarter and was given one of his patented jet sweep runs, which looked to be a solid play until he was tackled.

Schwartz gained seven yards but the ball came out as he was going to the ground and New York took over possession. The defense held but Greg Zuerlein knocked in his second field goal of the night to give the Jets a 6-0 lead.

Schwartz might have entered this game with an outside shot at the roster due to his speed, especially with Marquise Goodwin sidelined with blood clots, but this play could have sealed his fate.

Browns stud: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB

Cleveland managed a touchdown right before the end of the first half with Kellen Mond under center but Dorian Thompson-Robinson led them to a touchdown on his very first possession.

It wasn't always pretty as he had a couple of passes that were a bit low but he clearly had more zip on his passes than Mond and was 3-of-5 for 31 yards on his first drive. He was also moving it with his legs.

DTR's first run was a seven-yard gain on third-and-three to keep the drive going. Later on a second-and-16, he took off for 14 yards. But it was his play on a Demetric Felton touchdown that got fans fired up.

Thompson-Robinson handed it off on a zone read but then got in front of Felton and delivered a lead block as the backup running back went 16 yards to cut the lead to 16-14.

He wasn't finished there either as he hit Austin Watkins, Jr. for a 22-yard touchdown reception that wound up being the game-winner.

Browns dud: Kellen Mond, QB

The stats line wasn't terrible for Kellen Mond who got the start for the Browns but it was a bit misleading. He finished 13-of-19 for 92 yards with a touchdown and a pick but he was mainly throwing dump-offs and screen passes.

His interception came on one of the few attempts where he tried to go down the field and he never saw Chazz Surratt as the New York linebacker grabbed an easy pick.

Mond was a former third-round pick but he didn't have the same zip on his passes as Dorian Thompson-Robinson nor could he move it with his legs the way the rookie could. At this point, he's clearly behind in the race for QB3.