While the night didn’t start the way the Cleveland Browns had hoped against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team took the lead going into halftime thanks to two rookies making big plays. Running back Jerome Ford busted a 41-yard gain, caught a 13-yard pass and scored the Browns first touchdown.
After that, it was time for a defensive rookie to step up and make a play.
With Cleveland down 13-7, Jacksonville looked to extend their lead after a defensive holding call on Lavert Hill kept their drive alive inside the two-minute warning.
On second and five, CB Martin Emerson, the Browns first selection in the 2022 NFL draft, joined the rookie party. Emerson fought the receiver for the ball and pulled it away. He then stiff-armed a would-be tackler, cut past the quarterback trying to make a tackle and outraced the Jaguars to the endzone:
HE JUST TOOK IT AWAY. @MartyMargg1 houses it! @Browns
📱: Stream #CLEvsJAX on NFL+ https://t.co/APVkBqhnBN pic.twitter.com/0TkKU19MZc
— NFL (@NFL) August 13, 2022
Here, from the team’s official account, we see a different view of the interception and just how physical the rookie was:
"I'll take that!" 😏
-MJ probably#CLEvsJAX @MartyMargg1 pic.twitter.com/kNLKyCU9pE— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 13, 2022
After Ford and Emerson’s touchdowns, Cleveland’s rookies led Jacksonville 14-13 at halftime.
