Maysonet rushes for 25 yards in first NFL action
Update: Miguel Maysonet carried the ball nine times for 25 yards Thursday night in his first NFL game as the Cleveland Browns won 27-19 against the St. Louis Rams to open the preseason.
Maysonet was the last running back to get into the game for Cleveland and most of his work came in the fourth quarter. He also had two catches for 13 yards.
He finished the game with the second most carries for the Browns behind Brandon Jackson, who carried 11 times for 32 yards. Starter Dion Lewis rushed for 12 yards on five carries.
Late in the third quarter Maysonet caught a 10-yard pass from quarterback Brian Hoyer. His longest run was for eight yards on a first-and-10 late in the fourth quarter.
The Browns were without two running backs, including their top back Trent Richardson, who was sat with a minor injury.
Original Story: Miguel Maysonet will make his unofficial NFL debut tonight when the Cleveland Browns face the St. Louis Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland.
The former Riverhead and Stony Brook University running back is facing an uphill battle in trying to make the active roster for the start of the regular season. The Browns feature six running backs in training camp, highlighted by former Heisman winner Trent Richardson.
The good news for Maysonet is Richardson and running back Montario Hardesty are both sidelined for tonight’s game with injuries. That could open the door for Maysonet to receive more playing time.
Dion Lewis, a third-year tailback out of Pittsburgh, and Chris Ogbonnaya, a fourth-year player out of Texas, are expected to get the first crack running the ball, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
The Browns also feature Brandon Jackson, who’s in his sixth year out of Nebraska.
Cleveland’s starters are only expected to play the first quarter, which is typical in the first preseason game.
The game is scheduled for 8 p.m. and can be viewed online via NFL.com. The online feature, which grants access to live coverage of 65 preseason games, costs $19.99.
Maysonet was picked up off waivers by Cleveland after being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he signed with immediately after going undrafted in April.
