Browns lose preseason game against Vikings, 3 more tackles due to injuries

CLEVELAND – Two interceptions – one each by quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tyler Huntley – sealed the Browns’ 27-12 loss to the Vikings in preseason play on Saturday.

The bigger problem, which could linger into the regular season, was injuries to three tackles, a position that was already understaffed.

Depending on the results of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), general manager Andrew Berry may be forced to scour the free agent market and hope that tackles make it onto the waivers list.

Mike Hall Jr. will play against the Vikings after being accused of domestic violence earlier this week

The Browns fell to 0-2 in the preseason and will play the finale next Saturday night in Seattle. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and many of the starters are expected to play after resting on Saturday.

They return to the lakeshore on September 8th for the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

Rookie defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. played about 10 snaps and entered the game on the first third down. He was charged with domestic violence on Tuesday following an incident at his Avon home on Monday. He left practice on Wednesday with a stab wound.

The Browns began training camp with left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Jack Conklin still recovering from season-ending knee surgeries last year. They are still out of action but appear to be making progress.

Vikings are impressed by Myles Garrett's talent, instinct and work ethic after joint training sessions

Right tackle Dawand Jones had the evening off and is the only healthy tackle expected to make the regular season roster.

James Hudson III, who primarily replaced Wills, was the first to leave the field Saturday. He limped off in the second quarter with an ankle injury. Germain Ifedi (hand) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee) left the field on the first drive of the third quarter. They were all ruled out.

Berry signed Ifedi and Adeniji in the offseason as experienced backups. The position was decimated by injuries last season, with Wills, Conklin, Jones and Ty Nsekhe out for the season.

Without test results, Adeniji's injury appeared to be the worst he sustained on Saturday.

Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern intercepted a throw from Huntley at the 1-yard line and returned it 91 yards. Adeniji chased after him before stopping, then went hard again as Huntley slowed McGlothern down the sideline. Adeniji's right knee appeared to hyperextend as he spun out of bounds after a play.

He needed help getting to the medical tent before he could limp into the locker room under his own power.

For the second week in a row, the offense only managed 10 points. (The defense was able to get a safety on a sack by defensive tackle Chris Williams.) There were chances for more this week, but interceptions on the last drive of the first half and the first drive of the second half sabotaged them and took the wind out of the Browns' sails.

Thompson-Robinson completed 13 of 17 passes for 126 yards, with one interception, one sack and a passer rating of 72.2. After getting the Browns to the Vikings' 34-yard line with a 27-yard pass to running back D'Onta Foreman and a 17-yard pass to tight end Giovanni Ricci, Thompson-Robinson's pass intended for rookie receiver Jamari Thrash was behind him and deflected to safety Lewis Cine.

Thompson-Robinson led Cleveland's only touchdown drive, an eight-play, 69-yard run in the first quarter. Foreman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, effectively completing the comeback from a nasty neck injury suffered Aug. 1 at West Virginia.

Thompson-Robinson threw a 17-yard hook to receiver James Proche II and a 15-yard hook to Thrash on fourth-and-2. A pass interference penalty in the end zone after Thompson-Robinson evaded a sack gave the ball a 1-yard lead.

Huntley took over at the beginning of the second half and completed 14 of 20 passes for 135 yards, two interceptions and a rating of 49.0.

Huntley is competing with Thompson-Robinson for the third quarterback spot in the regular season. Huntley got off to a great start, throwing a 30-yard pass to tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden on his first play. He followed with a 22-yard pass to undrafted rookie tight end Treyton Welch, but was then intercepted on an overthrow toward Welch.

Huntley's second interception came in the final minute when he stepped into the pocket and threw over the middle.

Nick Mullens threw one touchdown pass for the Vikings and Jaren Hall threw two.

Browns writer for The Chronicle-Telegram and The Medina Gazette. Proud graduate of Northwestern University. Husband and stepfather. Avid golfer who has to hit the range to get to a single-digit handicap. Right with Johnny Manziel, wrong with Brandon Weeden. Contact Scott at 440-329-7253 or email and follow him on and On Twitter.