News

Cleveland Browns quarterback Brandon Weeden completed 25 of 52 passes for 320 yards with one interception in the team’s 23-16 loss at the Baltimore Ravens last Thursday night, but it was a pass that he did not complete that proved to be the most telling with regard to his progress.

In the fourth quarter, the Browns were moving the ball for the potential game-tying touchdown when Weeden spotted second-year wide receiver Greg Little behind his coverage down the middle of the field. Weeden aired out the pass, but Little could not hold onto the ball.

That incompletion showed the progress Weeden has made from his first start against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 9 to the Week Four game at Baltimore, according to offensive coordinator Brad Childress.

“I thought he made some in-game adjustments where he missed a blitz opportunity,” Childress said. “The one that Greg dropped down the middle, he had that same, exact look and that same, exact play earlier and missed the read. Coming back and being decisive with that -- that was a full pressure -- I thought he was seeing things (well).”

Through the first four games of his rookie season, Weeden completed 90 of 167 attempts for 997 yards and three touchdowns. Twenty-eight of those completions have gone to the running backs for 239 yards and one touchdown.

Weeden has completed 15 passes for 20 or more yards and three have gone to the running backs. Rookie running back Trent Richardson caught a 23-yard reception against the Cincinnati Bengals and turned the short pass into a highlight-reel touchdown.

“For a young quarterback, getting to your twos and threes and backside number fours, that’s always a work in progress,” Childress said. “They know the system forward and backward, but being able to come off of one and get to three, that’s easier said than done sometimes because that’s where it starts. You would hate it if they’re snapping to three and they missed or short-cutted the read. I feel like he’s getting there.”