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Speedy Raheem Mostert trying to make impact as a triple-threat

Raheem Mostert could have put his head down and let his night in Green Bay be ruined.

Instead, Mostert turned a big negative from his 2016 preseason debut into a bullet point on the list of things he did Friday against the Packers. His fumbled kickoff return merely preceded a string of strong runs he amassed during a productive second quarter scoring drive and a 24-yard punt return that set up a Browns touchdown in the third.

"Having a couple good runs and doing some good assignments and then having the dropped kickoff after the safety, it kind of hurt me a little bit inside," Mostert said Sunday. "But I got over it and just had to continue playing the game."

Shortly after Mostert fumbled a kickoff that directly followed a Browns safety, the second-year running back ran five times for 43 yards to lead all Browns rushers. The carries all came on the same possession, and the bulk of the yards came on a 27-yard burst that put Cleveland well into Packers territory.

The lengthy run, aided by a pulling Austin Pasztor, was reminiscent of a number of big gains Mostert has piled up throughout training camp. He became a Brown last year because of what he can do on kickoff returns but Mostert has been out to prove he can impact a game in more ways than one.

"It's a blessing," Mostert said. "I just I have to continue to strive and try to be perfect in my game like Coach Kirb (running backs coach/run game coordinator Kirby Wilson) talks about. He always says, 'Focus on the little details and that ultimately helps your career.' That's just something that I've been trying to work on throughout this training camp is just focus on my details and fundamentals and trying to figure out how I can be a better back."

The Browns face the Packers in the first game of the preseason at Green Bay.

One thing Mostert has down pretty well? Speed.

Mostert was a two-sport athlete at Purdue, starring as both a return specialist on the football team and a sprinter on the track. His 2,289 career kickoff return yards are a Purdue record and he brought home four Big Ten track titles: 60- and 110-meter indoor; 100- and 200-meter outdoor.

Two of the three tasks Mostert has attacked over the past month, though, are still relatively new to him. While he's looked like a natural on kickoff returns -- a spot at which he notched a 27.9 yard average over 11 games with the Ravens, Dolphins and Browns as a rookie -- Mostert has been working out the kinks at running back -- a position he only began playing as a junior with the Boilermakers -- and punt return, a spot at which he has minimal experience.

The latter didn't stop Mostert from stepping up and volunteering his services when last year's punt returner, Travis Benjamin, departed in free agency. He's been one of three competing at the spot alongside rookie wide receiver Corey Coleman and veteran cornerback Tramon Williams.

"I texted (special teams coordinator) Coach (Chris) Tabor and I was just like, 'Hey, look, I know that position is somewhat open and wherever the draft goes and stuff like that in Corey Coleman, that's a challenge that I want to do just to add value to the team and to show that I do have versatility in that phase and that I can provide some type of value to that part of the game,'" Mostert said. "That's what I've been trying to work on. I've been doing it since I was younger. I just never really got into the game and done it. It was a new experience for me, but I enjoyed it. I took on the challenge."

Every challenge has its setbacks, and Mostert's fumble on a kickoff -- which was essentially a punt because it followed a safety -- fit into that category. It just didn't put a halt to Mostert showing why he can potentially help the 2016 Browns in more ways than one.

"Whether that happened or not," Mostert said, "I had to move onto the next play."

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