The 2022 season was the Cleveland Browns' 70th in the National Football League (NFL), their 74th overall, and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry. The Browns failed to improve upon their 8–9 record from the previous season as they finished 7–10. The Browns failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight season The Browns introduced a new midfield logo, with Brownie the Elf; this is their first season with a new midfield logo since 2016.
On March 18, the Browns acquired quarterback Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans in a blockbuster trade including three first-round picks. Former starting quarterback Baker Mayfield was later dealt to the Carolina Panthers. Due to Watson's 11-game suspension levied as a result of several sexual assault accusations and lawsuits stemming from his time in Houston, the Browns started backup Jacoby Brissett for the games that Watson was forced to miss. The team posted a 4–7 record under Brissett before Watson made his debut in Week 13.
Offseason Re-signings Position Player Tag Date DE Jadeveon Clowney UFA DT Sheldon Day UFA S Ronnie Harrison UFA OT Chris Hubbard UFA RB D'Ernest Johnson RFA LB Anthony Walker Jr. UFA
Signings Position Player Tag 2021 Team Date LB UFA Jacksonville Jaguars P UFA Green Bay Packers QB UFA Miami Dolphins DT UFA Jacksonville Jaguars WR UFA New York Giants QB UFA Pittsburgh Steelers WR UFA Chicago Bears TE UFA Kansas City Chiefs CB UFA San Francisco 49ers S Waiver Atlanta Falcons LB UFA Washington Commanders OT Waiver San Francisco 49ers CB Waiver Detroit Lions DE UFA Houston Gamblers (USFL) C UFA Seattle Seahawks CB Waiver Houston Texans DE UFA Indianapolis Colts QB UFA Atlanta Falcons DE UFA Denver Broncos WR UFA Las Vegas Raiders WR Waiver New Orleans Saints
Players lost Position Player Tag 2022 Team Date WR Rashard Higgins UFA Carolina Panthers TE Austin Hooper Release Tennessee Titans FB Andy Janovich UFA Houston Texans WR Jarvis Landry Release New Orleans Saints K Chase McLaughlin Release Indianapolis Colts QB Nick Mullens UFA Las Vegas Raiders CB M. J. Stewart UFA Houston Texans C JC Tretter Release Retired
Trades The Browns made the following trades involving players during the 2022 offseason. Date Trade partner Browns traded Browns received Notes March 16 Dallas Cowboys 2022 5th-round selection 2022 6th-round selection WR Amari Cooper 2022 6th-round selection March 16 New England Patriots LB Mack Wilson DE Chase Winovich March 20 Houston Texans 2022 1st-round selection 2022 4th-round selection 2023 1st-round selection 2023 3rd-round selection 2024 1st-round selection 2024 4th-round selection QB Deshaun Watson 2024 6th-round selection March 20 Buffalo Bills QB Case Keenum 2022 7th-round selection April 30 Los Angeles Rams CB Troy Hill 2023 5th-round selection July 6 Carolina Panthers QB Baker Mayfield 2024 5th-round selection
Draft
2022 Cleveland Browns draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 13 Traded to the Houston Texans 2 44 Traded to the Houston Texans 3 68 Martin Emerson CB Mississippi State From Texans 78 Alex Wright DE UAB 99 David Bell WR Purdue 2020 Resolution JC-2A selection 4 107 Traded to the Houston Texans From Lions 108 Perrion Winfrey DT Oklahoma From Texans 118 Traded to the Minnesota Vikings 124 Cade York K LSU From Eagles via Texans 5 155 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys 156 Jerome Ford RB Cincinnati From Ravens via Vikings 6 193 Traded to the Dallas Cowboys 202 Michael Woods II WR Oklahoma From Cowboys 7 223 Isaiah Thomas DE Oklahoma From Lions 234 Traded to the Detroit Lions 246 Dawson Deaton C Texas Tech From Bills Draft trades
Undrafted free agents Name Position College Signed Cut Daylen Baldwin WR MichiganAugust 3 D'Anthony Bell S West FloridaMay 13 Junior Faulk CB Delta State May 17 Mike Harley Jr. WR Miami (FL) Felix Harper QB Alcorn State May 15 May 23 Travell Harris WR Washington State May 13 August 17 Brock Hoffman C Virginia Tech Shaun Jolly CB Appalachian State Silas Kelly LB Coastal Carolina Glen Logan DT LSU Zaire Mitchell-Paden TE Florida Atlantic Roderick Perry II DT Illinois Ben Petrula OT Boston College Marcus Santos-Silva TE Texas TechSantos-Silva played Basketball for Texas Tech and was not on their football team. May 2 August 22 Isaiah Weston WR Northern Iowa May 13 August 1
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–13 1–0 TIAA Bank Field Recap 2 August 21 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–21 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 Chicago Bears L 20–21 1–2 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Carolina Panthers W 26–24 1–0 Bank of America Stadium Recap 2 September 18 New York Jets L 30–31 1–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 3 Pittsburgh Steelers W 29–17 2–1 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 4 October 2 at Atlanta Falcons L 20–23 2–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 5 October 9 Los Angeles Chargers L 28–30 2–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 6 October 16 New England Patriots L 15–38 2–4 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 October 23 at Baltimore Ravens L 20–23 2–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 8 Cincinnati Bengals W 32–13 3–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 9Bye 10 November 13 at Miami Dolphins L 17–39 3–6 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 11 November 20 at Buffalo Bills L 23–31 3–7 Ford Field Recap 12 November 27 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–17 4–7 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 13 December 4 at Houston Texans W 27–14 5–7 NRG Stadium Recap 14 December 11 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–23 5–8 Paycor Stadium Recap 15 Baltimore Ravens W 13–3 6–8 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 16 New Orleans Saints L 10–17 6–9 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 17 January 1 at Washington Commanders W 24–10 7–9 FedExField Recap 18 January 8 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–28 7–10 Acrisure Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
The Browns opened their season with a trip to Charlotte to play the Carolina Panthers, led by former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Browns jumped out to a 20–7 lead, however Carolina scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the final frame to take a 24–23 lead with 1:13 remaining in the game. The Browns, led by backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett, drove to the Carolina 40-yard line, where rookie kicker Cade York hit a 58–yard field goal to give the Browns a 26–24 win.
With the win, the Browns started the season 1–0, the first season opening win since 2004, ending a 17-game winless streak in Week 1. York was named AFC Special Teams Player of the week. York connected on four field goals, including a 58–yard game-winner. This set the NFL record for the longest field goal by a rookie in his team's first game.
Week 2: vs. New York Jets
The Browns opened the home portion of their schedule against the New York Jets, looking for their first 2–0 start since 1993. The Browns built a 30–17 lead with just under 2:00 remaining in the game on the strength of three Nick Chubb touchdown runs. However, New York scored two quick touchdowns with a successful onside kick in between to take a surprising 31–30 win.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
After a tough loss, the Browns stayed home to take on the rival Pittsburgh Steelers on a very windy Thursday night. Both teams scored two touchdowns in the first half, but a missed extra point by Cade York gave the Steelers a 14–13 lead heading into halftime. The Browns took a 16–14 lead on a York field goal in the third quarter and extended it to 23–14 on a Nick Chubb touchdown run, but a Chris Boswell field goal cut the Browns' lead to six points with 1:48 remaining. Unable to run the clock out, the Browns punted the ball to the Pittsburgh 4-yard line with nine seconds remaining. However, an unsuccessful hook-and-latter play by was fumbled by Pittsburgh and recovered by Browns' CB Denzel Ward in the end zone to make the final score 29–17.
With the win, the Browns improved to 2–1.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
The Browns traveled to Atlanta to take on the Falcons. Atlanta opened a 10–0 lead in the first quarter on a Younghoe Koo field goal and a Cordarrelle Patterson touchdown run. However Cleveland answered with a Jacoby Brissett touchdown run and a Cade York field goal to tie the game 10–10 at halftime. York added another field goal to give the Browns a 13–10. The two teams traded touchdowns, giving the Browns a 20–17 lead after three quarters. Koo booted a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 23–20 win.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–2.
Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
The Browns returned home to take on the Los Angeles Chargers after a tough loss in Atlanta. Cleveland took a 7–0 lead five plays into the game when Nick Chubb broke numerous tackles on a 41-yard touchdown run, and doubled their lead on a Jacoby Brissett touchdown pass to Amari Cooper. However, Los Angeles scored the next 17 points on a Taylor Bertolet field goal and two touchdowns on a Joshua Kelley run and a Justin Herbert pass to Austin Ekeler. Cleveland retook the lead with Chubb's second touchdown run, making the score 21–17 at halftime.
On the opening drive of the second half, Herbert and Williams connected for 21 yards to convert a 3rd and 12, leading to an Ekeler touchdown run as the Chargers retook the lead at 24–21. Soon afterwards, Cleveland went for it on 4th and 1 from their own 34, but Kareem Hunt was tackled for a loss, setting up another Bertolet field goal. Hunt scored on Cleveland's next drive, putting Cleveland up 28–27 late in the 3rd quarter. Runs of 16 yards by Ekeler and 17 yards by Kelley then helped the Chargers drive inside Cleveland's 10, where they had to settle for their third short field goal of the game to take a 30–28 lead.
Late in the game, the Chargers went for 4th and 2 with 1:14 remaining. A conversion would have allowed Los Angeles to run out the clock. However, Herbert's pass was broken up and the Browns took over at the Los Angeles 45. Brissett managed a 10-yard completion, but could move the ball no closer, and York's 54-yard kick missed narrowly to the right with 11 seconds to play.
With the loss the Browns fell to 2–3.
Week 6: vs. New England Patriots
The Browns stayed home to take on the New England Patriots. New England was led by rookie backup quarterback Bailey Zappe due to an injury to starter Mac Jones. After the teams traded field goals in the first quarter, New England scored the game's first touchdown on a Rhamondre Stevenson 31-yard run. Cade York added his second field goal of the game late in the second quarter, giving New England a 10–6 halftime lead.
New England broke away with two Zappe touchdown passes in the third quarter to build their lead to 24–6. Cleveland then closed New England's lead to 24–15 with a York field goal and Jacoby Brissett touchdown pass to Amari Cooper with just over six minutes remaining. However, a failed onside kick and a Brissett interception led to two New England touchdowns, making the final score 38–15.
With the loss, the Browns fell to 2–4. During the game, DE Myles Garrett set the franchise record for most career sacks with 62.5, breaking the mark of 62 previously held by Clay Matthews.
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
The Browns traveled to Baltimore for their first meeting with the division rival Baltimore Ravens, looking to avoid a fourth straight loss. The Browns opened the scoring with a Nick Chubb touchdown run. After the two teams swapped field goals, the Browns held a 10–3 lead after one quarter. However, Baltimore scored the next 17 points on a Justin Tucker field goal and a pair of Gus Edwards touchdown runs to build a 20–10 lead.