Cleveland Browns find weapon in Travis Benjamin

The Cleveland Browns appear to have found a play maker through two weeks of the season in wide receiver Travis Benjamin. Benjamin has amassed a total of 368 total yards and 4 touchdowns through two weeks between his role as a receiver and punt returner. While Benjamin was someone discussed by some fans and media as someone that might not make the team, perhaps his emergence should not be that big of a surprise with his development over the past few season.

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On his first drive after taking over for the injured Josh McCown in their loss to the Jets, Johnny Manziel found an open Benjamin for a 54 yard touchdown where he simply blew by Antonio Cromartie after a quick hesitation move. He would finish the day with 3 catches for 89 yards.

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When Benjamin was drafted in the fourth round out of the University of Miami in 2012, the Browns knew he was fast, running a 4.36 at the NFL Combine. He was an extremely raw wide receiver and the question for the Browns was figuring out how to use him.

After having getting some looks at wide receiver but always appearing to be so small, Benjamin found a role taking over as team’s punt returning duties where he would ultimately take the crown from then fan favorite Joshua Cribbs. After having early success in that role, returning a punt for a touchdown in the 2012 and 2013 season, as well as being largely discounted a receiving option, Benjamin tore his ACL in October of 2013 and missed the rest of the season.

In 2014, Benjamin was healed but not fully recovered from his ACL injury and was simply not as explosive as he knew he was capable. Though he struggled as a punt returner and at times, appeared to battle with a case of the yips, Benjamin really focused on improving as a route runner and the position of wide receiver, earning himself a role later in the season as the fifth receiver, catching 13 passes.

In 2015, with a fully recovered knee and his confidence in returning back, Benjamin has combined what he has picked up learning the wide receiver position last year as well as his ability to be a dynamic returner and given the Browns both.

Against the Tennessee Titans, Benjamin scored a 60 yard touchdown pass on the second offensive play from the Browns when Manziel led him out far enough on a deep ball where he could track and catch the ball, cashing it in for a touchdown. Later, he returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown and capped off his game what Browns fans hope is the first of many Manziel moments in Cleveland.

In the fourth quarter of a 21-14 game, the Browns were trying to kill the clock, but found themselves on a 3^rd down and 6 situation. After a Titans timeout, Manziel dropped back to pass, and avoided pressure from Brian Orakpo coming from behind with a reverse spin, which was a trademark move of his in his college career at Texas A&M.

After rolling out to his left, Manziel appeared to have the room to run and pick up the 6 yards needed to pick up the first down as he attacked the line of scrimmage, but kept his eyes up looking down field and saw Benjamin streaking down the field. Manziel stopped, set up and fired a terrific pass that hit Benjamin in stride for a 52 yard touchdown that would ultimately seal the victory.

In all, Benjamin had 269 yards on 9 total touches (3 receptions, 6 punt returns) and 3 total touchdowns leading the Browns to a victory in their home opener against the Titans and making people wonder if maybe the Browns are not so helpless when it comes to weapons as they thought. For Benjamin, it is a statement game as he helps deliver a win for his team, but also helps him when it comes to looming contract talks as Benjamin will be a free agent after this season.

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