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Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden adjusted his style of preparation between the team’s season-opener, a 17-16 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns Stadium, and last Sunday’s 34-27 setback against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.

Weeden’s adjustments worked as he completed 26 of 37 attempts for a Browns rookie record of 322 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. In his NFL debut, Weeden completed 12 of 35 throws for 118 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions.

“It’s been very good,” Browns coach Pat Shurmur said of Weeden’s preparation. “I mentioned his preparation was really good in Week One as well. There were just things he got better at in Week Two. I thought he had a good week at practice.

“I’m anticipating that he will have another good game. We’re driving him to present good consistent play each week.”

One of Weeden’s two touchdowns against the Bengals came on a checkdown to running back Trent Richardson with just seven seconds remaining in the third quarter of play. Richardson caught the ball at the line of scrimmage and worked his way around and through several Bengals defenders on his way to the end zone.

Later in the Bengals’ game, Weeden tossed a 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Greg Little on a deep slant over the middle of the field with 7:11 left in regulation.

“We like throwing slants,” Shurmur said. “It’s a primary route in our offense. I think he can make all the throws.

“I think he throws an accurate ball on the slant route. Again, it’s like anything, the timing of it is important. If the receiver is bumped, the timing changes a little bit. Then, each receiver runs it just a little bit different, although you coach it the same way. It’s just like any route, you get used to who you’re throwing to.”

RELYING ON CAMERON

Veteran Browns tight end Alex Smith did not practice this week and was listed as “out” for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills after suffering a head injury in the loss to the Bengals. With Smith out of the lineup, that left the Browns with Benjamin Watson and Jordan Cameron as the tight ends on the active roster.

On Friday, Shurmur was asked about Cameron’s ability to block, something the second-year tight end has worked on since the start of the offseason program.

“I think he’s a good blocker,” Shurmur said of Cameron. “I think he’s developing into a blocker that you need to be in this league. Yeah, I feel like he can block.”

COMBATING THE BILLS

Under the direction of head coach Chan Gailey, the Bills run what several Browns defensive players have termed as an “unconventional” offense that is similar to a spread scheme utilized in the college game.

“Regardless of the personnel they put on the field, they do a good job of keeping the field wide, so that there’s room to run the ball and room to throw the ball as well. I think it’s typical of a lot of teams that you play, but I think they do a nice job on offense,” Shurmur said.

“I think you’ve got to look at the personnel that you have, and what you’re comfortable doing. I don’t know any disadvantages if the quarterback will get the ball out and you find a way to run the ball with efficiency.”

WORKING TO GET BACK

Defensive back and special teams standout Ray Ventrone missed the Bengals game due to a hand injury and practiced on a limited basis throughout this week. When the team released its final injury report for the Bills game, Ventrone was “questionable” with the hand injury.

“He’s had a really good week of practice,” Shurmur said. “Where he’s kind of made his mark around here is on special teams. He’s had a good week of practice.”