CLEVELAND — Josh McCown scored on his first preseason possession with the Cleveland Browns. Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins’ starters still can’t find the end zone.
Neither of those things mattered, though, as it was the Redskins who emerged with the 20-17 victory in the teams’ preseason opener on Thursday.
Griffin went 4-for-8 for 36 yards during two possessions, both of which were in the first quarter. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon dropped a long toss that would have gone for a touchdown.
Kirk Cousins rallied the Redskins, who trailed 14-3 in the second quarter. Cousins ran for a touchdown and went 12-for-14 for 154 yards.
Washington lost starting tight end Niles Paul to a broken left ankle and running back Silas Reed sustained a right knee injury.
“I’m sick about it,” coach Jay Gruden said of Paul’s season-ending injury. “He means a lot to this team.”
SEE ALSO: Niles Paul breaks left ankle in Redskins’ preseason victory over Browns
Washington’s first-team offense didn’t produce a touchdown in the preseason last year, foreshadowing Griffin’s struggles in his third season.
Griffin took a hit in the midsection on one play while rolling away from pressure, but still completed a 22-yard pass.
“You’re going to get hit every now and then,” Griffin said. “I thought we did a good job moving the ball. Get in, get out and that’s all you can ask for.”
Signed to stabilize Cleveland’s troublesome position, McCown connected with the wide-open Travis Benjamin on a two-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
“He looked lonely, so I threw him the football,” McCown said.
McCown, who went just 1-10 as a starter last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, completed all five passes in his one series. He threw a touchdown pass and backup Johnny Manziel scrambled for a touchdown for the Browns.
SEE ALSO: Three and out: Observations from the Redskins’ victory over the Browns
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