As the Browns wrapped up the preseason with their matchup against Seattle, they mixed in a handful of starters for the first two drives before putting in a number of backups and young players for the remainder of the game.
The Browns dropped their third preseason game to the Seahawks 37-33, but head coach Kevin Stefanski saw moments of effort and growth.
"Obviously didn't win the game there, but pleased with the effort," Stefanski said. "Guys were flying around, which we were excited to watch, and they did. Fought to the end there."
Here are three main takeaways from the final preseason game.
Decision to not play Deshaun Watson and the performance of QB room
Watson was ruled out prior to the game, and Stefanski said because Watson has played in the preseason before – as well as a combination of other players not playing – it was the best decision to rest Watson. However, Stefanski said he "feels great" about Watson's arm and confirmed that he will practice in full in the coming week.
"With Deshaun, with considerations to the guys who were out on offense – not just the offensive line – but just didn't feel like it would be best to put him out there in this setting," Stefanski said. "Very confident in the amount of work he's gotten to date throughout the spring and summer, and he'll be ready to roll Week 1."
QB Jameis Winston earned the start and led the Browns' first two offensive drives before Dorian Thompson Robinson took over and Tyler Huntley closed out the game. Stefanski said Winston operated well in running the offense and had a few solid throws down the field, as well as some explosive plays.
Stefanski also saw a number of solid moments from Thompson-Robinson in how he ran the offense at the end of the first quarter and throughout the second quarter. Thompson-Robinson finished the game completing 11-of-20 passing attempts for 115 yards and one touchdown.
"Obviously, a really nice play on that thrown down to Jamari Thrash, taking a hit as he threw it," Stefanski said. "So performed well. And again, this goes back to Dorian has done a nice job the second he got cleared, which was back in June, finally getting back out there. And he's done a nice job since."
In the second half of the game, Huntley connected with pass catchers three different times in the end zone, once to WR James Proche II on a six-yard pass and twice with WR Michael Woods II on consecutive offensive drives.
"Snoop's (Huntley) played a lot of good football for us, a lot of good football in his career," Stefanski said. "He's a playmaker. You saw it. It was on display tonight when things aren't there, he finds a way to make a play, so I thought he did a really nice job."
