Sheehy-Guiseppi scores emotional punt return touchdown

Every preseason fans are introduced to a player who is a longshot yet makes the one play that shows he has the potential to make a 53-man roster.

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi is a name you may recognize. He’s the guy who talked his way into a workout with the Cleveland Browns and wowed team personnel with a 4.38 40-yard dash. Thursday night, Sheehy-Guiseppi returned a punt 86-yards for a touchdown.

With Sheehy the only name on the back of his number 15 jersey, he juggled the catch for a split moment; the same moment he saw a gap, split the gunners closing on him, and raced down the near sideline, outrunning the entire Redskins coverage team while flashing the 4.38 speed that gave him the opportunity to even be in FirstEnergy Stadium in the first place.

It wasn’t just the touchdown that was so impressive for the 24-year-old rookie. Nearly the entire Browns sideline piled on Sheehy-Guiseppi in the endzone, showing just how much his teammates appreciate his determination.

It was the only time Sheehy-Guiseppi touched the ball Thursday night in the 30-10 victory over Washington.

Sheehy-Guiseppi isn’t a polished receiver just yet, as is detailed in his story on the Browns website. His coaches at Pheonix College told him he should focus on being an exceptional returner and refused to put time into him as a receiving threat. For what it’s worth, he effectively talked his way onto that team as well. He turned that opportunity into four return touchdowns on a league-leading 1,278 yards.

No doubt, if Sheehy-Guiseppi earns a spot on the Browns roster (or any other team) it will be for his return ability. Only then will he be in a situation where he can grow as a receiver and find an opportunity to display his speed on offense.

Until then, Sheehy-Guiseppi has three more games this preseason to prove why he should be the Browns kick returner and why that position is worth a spot on the final 53-man roster.