CLEVELAND — With Austin Hooper missing Sunday's matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday due to a case of appendicitis, rookie tight end Harrison Bryant figured to play a more prominent role in the Cleveland Browns' passing game.
And while quarterback Baker Mayfield got off to another slow start, those projections ultimately came to fruition, as the Browns' quarterback found Harrison for a 3-yard touchdown pass to tie the Bengals 10-10 in the second quarter on Sunday.
Mayfield's touchdown pass to Bryant marked his first of the day and came one quarter after he threw an interception on Cleveland's opening drive for the second straight week. Although the Browns' offense struggled to find its footing early, the No. 1 pick of the 2018 NFL Draft seemed more settled in the second quarter, helping string together an 11-play, 75-yard drive, which he ultimately capped with the 3-yard score to Bryant.
With his first catch of the game, Bryant has now totaled 9 receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
Entering Sunday's contest at 4-2, the Browns are going to need Mayfield to build on his second-quarter showing if they're going to avoid losing for the second straight week. Last week, Cleveland lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a score of 38-7, with Mayfield throwing a pick-6 interception to safety Minkah Fitzpatrick on the opening drive of the game.
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