Jerry Jeudy only received boos when he came back to Denver to show what he is capable of.
“They only boo you,” Jeudy said, “when they know that there is something great in you.”
The volatile Cleveland Browns wideout more than made his presence felt Monday night as he hauled in nine passes for 235 yards — the most by a receiver against a former team in NFL history. He also had a 70-yard touchdown in a 41-32 loss to the bronze.
Jeudy, who spent his first four years with Denver, was booed every time he touched the ball. He enjoyed all the attention being focused on him even gesturing at times for the people to make even louder noises.
His only regret? The Browns (3-9) could not finish off the victory as Jameis Winston threw two pick-6s in addition to four touchdowns and a team-record 497 passing yards.
“Came up short,” Jeudy said. “I’ve got to win, I’ve got to get there.”
Jeudy has developed a fairly good chemistry with Winston which showed in the last four games he caught 28 passes.
Winston and Jeudy got rolling early against Denver with a 44-yard completion on the Browns first offence play. Broncos fans were also treated to a glimpse of Jeudy’s great promise when he caught a deep pass and ran 70 yards for a touchdown. He even got to the point of crossing the goal line he jumped backward into the end zone with vigor.
Jeudy, a former first-round pick in 2020, was shipped to the Cleveland in the spring after a roller-coaster stint in Denver.
“He’s phenomenal. Winston, who threw three interceptions, said: ‘Beginning of the week he knew what time it was’. He was hungry, he was prepared, he was ready to get back here and show up and show off. And he did that. I only wish we could have gotten this win for him, but am glad he played his best game today. I’m happy he did amazing. He’s an amazing receiver.”
It was a game for Winston, a game full of rights and lefts as far as he was concerned.
Ja’Quan McMillian returned an interception 44 yards for a game-sealing touchdown with 1:48 remaining. Nik Bonitto also intercepted Winston and took it 71 yards to the house in the final seconds of the second quarter. Winston led the NFL for the most passing yards of 400 or more with four or more TD passes and two pick-6s for the first time in NFL by a quarterback.
“It was my fault,” Winston said. “I’ve got to play better.”
The plan by the Browns was to bring Jeudy into the game as often as possible. They did, too — 13 times. He was actually getting 26.1 yards every time he caught the football.
“Jerry executed the plan really well,” Cleveland coach Kevin Stefanski said. “Got him open. Jameis made some throws. It’s hard in the losing effort to feel good about anything.”
Regardless of who was covering him in coverage, even future first-round pick Denver corner, Pat Surtain II Jeudy got open.
“It’s always great going against Pat,” Jeudy said, with Surtain and him both a part of the Alabama team in the past. I think he’s a great corner in this league, been going against him my whole life. This is always going to be a challenge with him.”
He added that there’s no ill feeling or hatred against the Broncos (8-5) anymore.
“At the end of the day, it’s football.” Yes, it’s competitive,” Jeudy said. Children in particular love to have juice every time they are called to go and have fun. Everybody wants to be great. Everybody wants to win. That’s it. No beef.”
