Lights go out on Cleveland Browns’ win over Jets in NFL preseason opener
Zach Wilson proved that he can move the New York offense as a backup quarterback, but the Jets lost to the Cleveland Browns 21-16 in the Hall of Fame game on Thursday night, kicking off the Aaron Rodgers era.
In the NFL's first game of 2023, both teams rested their stars, so the game was between newbies and backups.
A power outage in Tom Benson Stadium caused a 20-minute delay between the third and fourth quarters on the first night of the season.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns' rookie quarterback, led them to two touchdowns in the second half.
Thompson-Robinson, who was picked in the fifth round, threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Austin Watkins Jr. with 9:33 left to put Cleveland ahead.
Wilson's struggles as a starting the past two years led the Jets to look for a new quarterback. They finally got Rodgers from Green Bay by trading for him in April.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft was 3 for 5 and had 65 yards passing on his 24th birthday. Wilson's pass to wide receiver Malik Taylor for 57 yards set up the game's first touchdown.
Saleh said at halfway, "I thought he did a great job running the offense." "His go-ball on the left side was great. We thought he did a great job for us the first time."
The four-time MVP watched from the sidelines while wearing black Jets gear and radio. He looked more like an assistant coach than a star quarterback.
On Wednesday, Rodgers took a tour of the Hall of Fame and got a close look at a place where he will be inducted one day.
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