Donovan Peoples-Jones continues breakout campaign in Week 6 loss
The Cleveland Browns do not have a lot to celebrate after their defeat to the Arizona Cardinals. Quarterback Baker Mayfield left his press conference with his arm in a sling. Kareem Hunt was carted off from the sidelines to the locker room and looked to be in a lot of pain and the final score, 37 – 14, maybe the least of the team’s worries.
We noted some of the major questions facing the Browns after the game but it is fair to note one major positive: Donovan Peoples-Jones.
Peoples-Jones finished the game with four receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Over half of his yards (57) came from the hail mary touchdown pass at the end of the second half but he got himself in position for the ball and fought to come down with it. He earned that catch and touchdown.
He also had the team’s only other touchdown on a precise route near the goal line. Mayfield hit him in stride and the second-year receiver out of Michigan turned upfield, sized up the defender and then plowed him over for the score.
After having only four receptions in the first four games of the season, Peoples-Jones had a breakout game in Week 5 catching five passes for 70 yards. With four more receptions in Week 6, Cleveland’s sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft is one reception shy of his rookie mark of 14 catches.
With his two touchdowns on Sunday against the Cardinals, Peoples-Jones matched his rookie mark and is only 76 yards shy of the 304 receiving yards he had last year.
With the future of the position up in the air, Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry’s contracts could lead to interesting decisions this offseason, Peoples-Jones having a breakout year could help provide some clarity. Currently, he is two weeks into this breakout campaign after a slow start to the season. If training camp is any indication, Peoples-Jones has a lot more production coming the rest of the year.
