Browns 17, Giants 13: KhaDarel Hodge catches TD, Greg Newsome II moves closer to starting spot

CLEVELAND — Rookie cornerback Greg Newsome II continued to look like a veteran, and if he hasn't secured a starting job for Week 1, he's getting closer by the day.Receiver KhaDarel Hodge got back into the end zone, practiced the air guitar and might have ended any debate about whether he's a lock to make the roster.Rookie safety Richard LeCounte sealed the 17-13 win over the Giants on Sunday with his second interception in two preseason games — this one in the end zone on the final play — and was praised by coach Kevin Stefanski.The vast majority of starters for both teams rested on a sunny, steamy afternoon, and the highlights were few and far between. Case Keenum threw a 7-yard touchdown to Hodge, John Kelley scored on a 5-yard run and Chase McLaughlin made a 49-yard field goal into the Dawg Pound."It was hot. They were battling. It took 60 minutes," Stefanski said.Both teams kept their emotions in check after a contentious practice Friday that was followed by Browns nickelback Troy Hill and Giants receiver Sterling Shepard throwing wild haymakers at each other. Stefanski punished Hill by making him play."A long week," Hodge said.Newsome played the whole first half, including reps in the slot, had two tackles and wasn't tested often. The Browns are happy with his progress as they try to get him ready for the opener Sept. 12 against the Chiefs.He had a great week, including a game-sealing interception in a two-minute drill and a couple of near-misses in the joint practices with the Giants."He is building on the practice week — I think that is a good way to put it," Stefanski said. "He is doing a nice job. He just has to continue to do so."Newsome, the No. 26 pick in April, entered training camp battling Greedy Williams for the starting spot opposite Denzel Ward. Williams, who missed all of last season with a nerve injury in his shoulder, left practice Friday with a migraine and returned to start Sunday but exited in the second series with a groin injury. He remained on the sideline but didn't re-enter the game.Mailbag: Will Browns trade players for picks before season? Is Baker Mayfield worth huge payday?The Browns (2-0) stormed out of the starting gate. After the defense opened the game with a stop near midfield, the offense met little resistance in its march down the field.Keenum, making his second straight preseason start as Baker Mayfield watched in full uniform, went 4-for-5 for 35 yards, including a fourth-down touchdown pass to Hodge. D'Ernest Johnson rushed three times for 34 yards and caught a pass for 8.Hodge, the special teams ace who's fighting for a roster spot and playing time on offense, reached high to haul in the touchdown on an out to the left sideline. Cornerback Madre Harper undercut the route, but Keenum's pass narrowly cleared his outstretched arm."That throw to Hodgey was outstanding — a great catch, great throw," Stefanski said.Hodge doesn't have a touchdown in 39 regular-season games and hadn't scored since his rookie preseason in 2018 with the Rams."Felt amazing," he said. "I've been trying to get in the end zone for so long, man."Everything counts. Just coming out and competing, you want to put the best on tape every day, whether it's in a game, practice, preseason, regular season, anything."The Browns figure to have five locks for the roster at receiver: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Rashard Higgins and rookie Anthony Schwartz. Hodge is the favorite to win the last spot, and the touchdown surely helped. He strummed an air guitar and Keenum joined him.He came up with the celebration last year while playing "Fortnite" and doesn't know how to play guitar."If anybody is giving lessons, I'm really open to learn," Hodge said.The Giants tied the game at 7 on a 1-yard leaping touchdown run by Devontae Booker, then things came to a screeching half.The Browns had a chance to score on their second drive, reaching the 10-yard line. Peoples-Jones made a great catch on a slant when the pass was way behind him. Rookie Demetric Felton, who played running back after playing receiver in the opener against the Jaguars, caught a 12-yard hook after splitting out wide.But Keenum was intercepted by safety Quincy Wilson as he threw for tight end Jordan Franks in the back of the end zone. Keenum had good protection but tried to force the ball.Keenum went 9-for-12 for 74 yards, a touchdown, an interception and an 83.3 passer rating.The offense gave the crowd something to cheer about again in the third quarter. After a year in which attendance was capped at around 12,000 because of the pandemic, full capacity was permitted. There were plenty of empty seats for the meaningless matinee, with the crowd smaller than the paid attendance of 47,878.No. 3 quarterback Kyle Lauletta led a four-play, 56-yard touchdown drive. Fullback/tight end Johnny Stanton IV and Kelly did all the damage.Stanton caught passes for 14 and 19 yards to start the drive. After Kelly rushed for 18 yards, he scored from 5 yards with the help of a Stanton block.The Giants made it 14-13 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke to David Sills V. Cornerback Brian Allen was in coverage on the stop route.Allen atoned right away when he teamed with linebacker Elijah Lee to stop running back Gary Brightwell on a 2-point conversion try from the half-yard line with 7:11 left. Pass interference and face mask penalties on cornerback Robert Jackson moved the 2-point try closer to the goal line.LeCounte's interception of Lewerke's heave after time expired was another example of him being in the right place at the right time."Ball finds a way to him, and he has great ball skills," Stefanski said.