INDIANAPOLIS -- With the majority of the Browns’ offensive starters on the sidelines, Garrett Gilbert and D'Ernest Johnson took full advantage of the opportunity and capped a productive week on the road in impressive fashion.
The journeyman quarterback and young running back spearheaded a Browns offense that scored touchdowns on back-to-back drives in the first half of Saturday’s 21-18 victory over the Colts.
Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Drew Stanton, running back Nick Chubb, wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry and tight end David Njoku did not play. Cleveland’s starting offensive line was on the field for the first series.
So it was Gilbert -- who signed with the Browns after his eight-game stint in the now-defunct AAF -- who got the start after the teams’ two joint practices earlier in the week. After leading a touchdown drive in Cleveland’s preseason opener last week, Gilbert led two Saturday and finished 13-of-19 for 151 yards and two touchdowns.
After a clunky start, the Browns got rolling on their third offensive series, which was extended by a significant, third-down pass interference penalty. On the seventh play of the 64-yard drive, Gilbert found a wide open Jaelen Strong in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown.
They moved just as swiftly down the field on their next possession. Gilbert found D.J. Montgomery down the sidelines for 32 yards before firing a 6-yard touchdown pass to Johnson.
Johnson finished with 10 carries for 53 yards and three receptions for 26 yards and the touchdown. A former teammate of Gilbert’s for the AAF’s Orlando Apollos, Johnson also fielded kicks and punts in the first half.
Montgomery led Browns receivers with three receptions for 77 yards. Derrick Willies caught a touchdown in the third quarter to cap an eight-play, 78-yard drive led by rookie quarterback David Blough.
Check out photos of the Cleveland Browns vs the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium by team photographer Matt Starkey
Safety Morgan Burnett (42) reacts to a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (98) on the field during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) at the line of scrimmage during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) on the field during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Joe Schobert (53) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Christian Kirksey (58) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Damarious Randall (23) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Jermaine Whitehead (35) makes a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Greedy Williams (26) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back Kareem Hunt (27) runs the ball during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
The Browns huddle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (65) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Punter Jamie Gillan (7) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Punter Jamie Gillan (7) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) celebrates a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) celebrates after a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Terrance Mitchell (39) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
The Browns make a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Mack Wilson (51) celebrates after making a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) reacts to a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) reacts to a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Jaelen Strong (10) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates after a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) runs the ball during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Punter Britton Colquitt (4) and kicker Austin Seibert (2) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Quarterback Garrett Gilbert (3) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins (81) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) on the sideline during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Olivier Vernon (54) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) celebrates a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety J.T. Hassell (49) and safety Eric Murray (22) celebrate a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (33) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Eric Murray (22) makes a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (33) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) on the sideline during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver D.J. Montgomery (83) makes a catch during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (15) prepares to receive a punt during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) makes a tackle during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Ishmael Hyman (16) makes a catch during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running Back D’Ernest Johnson (30) runs the ball during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Quarterback David Blough (9) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Derrick Willies (84) scores a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Derrick Willies (84) scores a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Wide receiver Derrick Willies (84) scores a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Donnie Lewis Jr. (37) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Kicker Austin Seibert (2) makes the extra point following a touchdown during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Jarrell Owens (62) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive tackle Carl Davis (94) and defensive end Anthony Zettel (97) run off the field during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Linebacker Genard Avery (55) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Head Coach Freddie Kitchens during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Wyatt Ray (61) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Phillip Gaines (28) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety J.T. Hassell (49) and long snapper Charley Hughlett (47) react to a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Running back D’Ernest Johnson (30) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive Line Coach Tosh Lupoi during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Sheldrick Redwine (33) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Safety Tigie Sankoh (40) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Lenzy Pipkins (41) during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Cornerback Robert Jackson (34) reacts to a play during the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Wyatt Ray (61) sacks the quarterback in the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
Defensive end Wyatt Ray (61) celebrates a sack in the Browns vs. Colts preseason game.
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The majority of Cleveland’s starters on defense, with the exception of Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, played throughout the first quarter. Indianapolis used most of its healthy starters on offense -- a group that doesn’t currently include quarterback Andrew Luck and all-pro guard Quenton Nelson -- through the first quarter and into the second and its top defenders for the first two series.
A mix of Browns first- and second-teamers were on the field early in the second quarter when Indianapolis’ starters drove 85 yards on 10 plays -- one of the biggest being a fourth-and-3 conversion -- and found the end zone on a 12-yard Eric Ebron touchdown catch.
The Colts were back in the end zone early in the fourth quarter on a drive aided at the start and in the middle by Browns penalties. Quarterback Chad Kelly connected with tight end Ross Travis for the score.
When Cleveland’s defense was mostly first-teamers on the first two series, Indianapolis picked up just one first down and punted twice.
Both of Cleveland’s kickers missed long field goal attempts, as Greg Joseph went wide left on a 53-yarder at the end of the first half and rookie Austin Seibert missed left on a 52-yard attempt late in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland heads to Tampa Bay on Friday for its third preseason game.
