Bears Close Out Preseason With Loss, Colts Edge Bengals

By ESPN

Mitchell Trubisky got an opportunity to start. And he got little chance to show what he can do.

Chicago's prized rookie completed just two passes, and the Bears closed out the preseason with a 25-0 loss to the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

Trubisky started with Mike Glennon and veteran Mark Sanchez resting for the opener against Atlanta next week. But after dazzling at times with his play in the preseason and sparking a quarterback controversy in Chicago, he simply didn't get to make many throws in this game.

The No. 2 overall pick and Cleveland-area product completed 2 of 5 passes for 10 yards against the team that drafted defensive end Myles Garrett first. Both completions and four attempts came on his fourth possession, early in the second quarter, before giving way to Connor Shaw.

Trubisky did nothing but hand off as Chicago went three-and-out on its first three drives, drawing boos from restless fans.

"I was just thinking to myself that was the first time in my career I handed off nine straight times," he said. "(There's) nothing I can do about it. Hopefully it's the last time."

Trubisky re-entered the game twice in the closing minutes, first coming in for two plays when Shaw briefly returned to the sideline.

A scrambling Shaw exited with a hamstring injury after twisting his left leg while being tackled near the sideline on his second play back, forcing Trubisky to finish the game with the Bears deep in Cleveland territory.

The Browns sacked Trubisky on the final play with the ball on the 9 to preserve their shutout -- and perfect preseason. They open against Pittsburgh.

"I can see something building in the locker room," coach Hue Jackson said. "That's what you want. There's a lot of good things happening in there right now. I'm proud of the guys."

Cody Kessler had a solid first half with the Browns holding out second-round pick DeShone Kizer and Brock Osweiler, completing 11 of 19 passes for 144 yards despite steady pressure. He was sacked three times but threw a 27-yard touchdown to Rannell Hall in the second quarter.

Kevin Hogan started the third period and went 13 of 18 for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He hit a wide-open Randall Telfer for a 51-yard TD late in the quarter and threw a 21-yarder to Jordan Leslie early in the fourth, making it 25-0.

The win came during a busy week for the Browns, who cut two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden and traded disappointing offensive lineman Cam Erving to Kansas City.

They are also in the market for a receiver and might release Osweiler if they can't find someone to absorb at least part of his guaranteed $16 million contract.

Colts 7, Bengals 6

Few questions were answered heading into the preseason as the Colts and Bengals played a difficult to watch 7-6 game won by Indianapolis on Thursday night.

Phillip Walker's fourth-quarter, 29-yard touchdown pass to Justice Liggins was enough to give the Colts the win in a fourth and final preseason game full of position battles. With less than 48 hours until rosters will be cut to 53, both Cincinnati and Indianapolis had key spots undecided. Each team walks away with a lot of uncertainty still remaining.

"We were (only) able to put seven points on the board," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "We didn't do much. We didn't move the ball real well. We got outrushed and there was protection issues. We know this weekend is the toughest weekend in football because of the cutdowns."

Walker got Indianapolis its second win of the preseason, but the focus was on Scott Tolzien and Phillip Morris -- two quarterbacks fighting for the right to be Andrew Luck's backup and the de facto Week 1 (or longer) starter. Luck is recovering from January shoulder surgery that's left him on the physically unable to perform list throughout training camp. While he is expected to be removed from the PUP list by Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline, his status for the Sept. 10 season opener at the Rams remains in doubt.

Tolzien and Morris each led the Colts on two drives before Walker entered, playing the entire second half and finishing 2 for 9 with one interception and the game's only touchdown. Tolzien completed 4 of 5 for 24 yards; Morris hit on 2 of 5, including a 51-yard long ball to JoJo Natson.

While Indianapolis worries about the franchise quarterback and his interim replacement, Cincinnati is fretting over what might occur in games that come down to decisive field goals.

Bengals kicker Randy Bullock is trying to shake mishaps from a season ago and cement his spot as Cincinnati's placekicker. Bullock missed what would have been a winning kick against Houston in 2016, and on Thursday night whiffed on a potential 47-yard go-ahead field goal with 1:50 left in regulation. But Cincinnati's Jake Elliott didn't do himself any favors, either. Despite the distance, Elliott missed a would-be 60-yard winning field goal as time expired.

"I think to have that (chance to win) at the end, we couldn't have scripted it better," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "(Game-winning kicks offer a) situation we try to put them in in practice. Obviously in practice it's a different situation from what we had here. We want them to make the kicks. So obviously we're not satisfied with missing three opportunities."

Cincinnati started AJ McCarron, ensuring QB Andy Dalton a clean bill of health when the Bengals host the Ravens on Sept. 10. McCarron was forced to come back in after his backup, Jeff Driskel, left with a thumb injury. Driskel was 2 of 3 for 21 yards. McCarron ended the night 20 of 30 for 216 yards.

Bengals first-round wide receiver John Ross caught one pass for 6 yards before leaving with a knee injury.

"Now, the focus changes," Lewis said. "(The regular season) is here now. We've got to get focused and get ready to go."

Thursday, August 31 Scoreboard

Green Bay 24, Los Angeles Rams 10

Jacksonville 13, Atlanta 7

Indianapolis 7, Cincinnati 6

New York Jets 16, Philadelphia 10

Buffalo 27, Detroit 17

New York Giants 40, New England 38

Pittsburgh 17, Carolina 14

Washington 13, Tampa Bay 10

Miami 30, Minnesota 9

Baltimore 14, New Orleans 13

Cleveland 25, Chicago 0

Kansas City 30, Tennessee 6

Denver 30, Arizona 2

San Francisco 23, Los Angeles Chargers 13

Seattle 17, Oakland 13

Dallas at Houston, canceled

Thursday, September 7 Schedule (Time Central)

Kansas City at New England, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, September 10 Schedule (All Times Central)

New York Jets at Buffalo, noon

Atlanta at Chicago, noon

Baltimore at Cincinnati, noon

Pittsburgh at Cleveland, noon

Arizona at Detroit, noon

Jacksonville at Houston, noon

Tampa Bay at Miami, noon

Oakland at Tennessee, noon

Philadelphia at Washington, noon

Indianapolis at  Los Angeles Rams, 3:05 p.m.

Seattle at Green Bay, 3:25 p.m.

Carolina at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

New York at Dallas, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, September 11 Schedule (All Times Central)

New Orleans at Minnesota, 6:10 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at Denver, 9:20 p.m.