Taylen Green went two weeks in training camp without getting a repetition in team drills. Then the joint practice against the Bills arrived, he was given a few snaps and threw for a touchdown and ran for another.
He should be able to draw from that experience Thursday night when the Browns host the Patriots in the preseason finale.
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Green, a rookie sixth-round pick, didn’t play in the first two preseason games and didn’t take a single team rep Monday and Tuesday in practice. But he’ll follow Dillon Gabriel at quarterback against New England, as Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will get the night off.
“You always have to be prepared for that moment when your number gets called,” Green said Tuesday when asked about the joint practice. “So it felt good, being out there with the guys.”
Coach Todd Monken didn’t reveal how much Gabriel and Green would play, but the split could be a half each. The game is in prime time and will be shown on Prime Video with Al Michaels doing play-by-play.
Not a bad way to make an NFL debut, even if it is the preseason.
“Oh, I’m excited. I’ve got family coming to town,” Green said. “It’s a night game, lights out. It’s going to be a dream come true. Just being out there and being a Cleveland Brown, who wouldn’t want that?”
The Browns took a flyer on Green late in the draft because he has elite physical traits. He’s 6-foot-6, 230 pounds with a live arm and great athleticism. He ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine with a 43 1/2-inch vertical jump and 11-2 broad jump.
Monken has been impressed with something that can’t be measured at the combine.
“That dude is smart as heck to go out there and function, we hardly give him any reps,” Monken said after the joint practice. “I love that dude. We have four guys, it’s hard to give them all reps.
“But all he does is work, always has a smile on his face. I’m happy we got him.”
Monken is looking forward to seeing Green in a game and talked to him about getting ready.
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“Man, isn’t this cool? Everything you dreamed about that the majority of us don’t get to do, to put the helmet on,” Monken said. “It’s just that next step. Most of us have dedicated our lives to this sport, so to be able to play in an NFL game is really freaking cool.”
Green was drafted as a developmental prospect. His throwing mechanics needed to be tightened and too many turnovers countered the big plays he made at Boise State then Arkansas. He threw 20 interceptions and fumbled 17 times in his last two years of college while completing 61.2 percent for 5,868 yards. He rushed for 777 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior.
The problem in the NFL, especially with a quarterback competition focused on Watson and Sanders, is there aren’t enough reps to fast-track that development. Green’s path to improvement has come largely through individual drills, observing during team drills and in the meeting rooms.
“Just taking mental reps,” he said. “When I get the call from my helmet, I’m saying it. We have the wristbands, staying after practice, throwing, going through the script, asking questions in the quarterback room, or just listening and being a sponge and continuing to learn.
“I’m in a unique position. Yeah, I’m not getting a lot of reps, but at the same time I have a great quarterback room that has a lot of wisdom and has a lot of experience. So I’m just learning. It feels like I’m in the classroom.”
He said he’s made the biggest strides huddling and calling plays.
“Just having the confidence and the energy that each play we’re going to score, even if it’s a run play,” Green said. “And I’d say my attention to detail.
“When I scored that touchdown, there are still things I can work on. I feel good, but there are little things: footwork, ball placement, the way it comes out of my hand. My coaches are doing a great job of highlighting that to me so I can be more aware, and after practice I can continue to get those reps and continue to learn and get better at those things.”
The touchdown pass was a well-placed fade to receiver Tylan Wallace, who went up and snatched the ball. Green didn’t get the shotgun snap cleanly but got a good enough grip to execute the play.
The quarterback keeper for a touchdown showed off his running skills.
“It just shows my versatility,” Green said of the two scores. “The touchdown to Tylan, I just threw it, he made the play, made a great catch, celebrating and having fun out there.”
Monken said it’s too early to tell if Green and his dual-threat ability could be used during the regular season in special situations, such as short yardage and goal line.
“I don’t know that yet. It’s just been so limited at practice,” Monken said. “So I’m just excited to see (Green and Gabriel) play, because they don’t get nearly as many reps in practice so their opportunity to get out there and play will weigh heavily in where we look at the roster moving forward.”
General manager Andrew Berry has been known to trade a quarterback or two after the preseason, so how he handles the depth chart behind Watson and Sanders is to be determined. He’s not opposed to keeping four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster but could try to get one through to the practice squad. Gabriel went 1-5 as the starter last year as a rookie and saw limited action in the first two preseason games this year.
Monken was asked if there’s uncertainty about who will be the No. 3 QB.
“I wouldn’t say that. We just want to see them,” he said.
Green’s trying not to focus too much on roster cuts, which are due by Sunday at 6 p.m.
“Of course, it crosses your mind, but at the same time you can’t control that,” he said. “You’ve got to just be where your feet are and control what you can control and put your best foot forward each and every day.”
