BEREA, Ohio -- There's good news and bad news for the Browns at the wide receiver position.
The bad news is Josh Gordon will miss the first two games of the regular season after being suspended by the NFL for substance abuse.
Gordon had a big rookie season and looked as though he was ready to blossom as the Browns No. 1 receiver, who could stretch the field in Norv Turner's vertical passing game. The Browns hope that still happens, but it will be put on hold for at least two weeks.
The good news is that the Browns have Davone Bess and Travis Benjamin, who should be able to pick up the slack in Gordon's absence.
Brandon Weeden admitted earlier this week that the offense will miss Gordon.
"It hurts," Weeden said. "(Gordon's) a talented player that we're gong to rely on for 14 games, but I'm confident in the other guys."
Turner said he expects Bess and Benjamin to step up and make big plays.
"They have to," he said. "We've worked on all the things that we're going to do with them and they've been practicing at a high level. It's been great to have Davone back. He not only missed those games, he missed quite a bit of practice. He's a veteran player. He can handle it. It's still making sure he's on the same page with Brandon. Those guys just have to step up and make the plays that are there for them."
Minus Gordon, barring a move, the Browns will only have four wide receivers suited up for the game in Bess, Benjamin, Greg Little and Josh Cooper. Rob Chudzinski isn't concerned with the low numbers.
"Bess and Benjamin will be co-starters," he said. "We'll be OK. I've done it before."
Bess was acquired in a trade on draft day, ironically, with the Dolphins and will start his Browns career against the only NFL team he has played for. He is expected to be a key contributor on third downs, as he is the 14th most productive receiver in the NFL over the past four years.
In 77 career games with the Dolphins, Bess had 321 receptions for 3,447 yards, including 12 touchdowns.
Defensive coordinator Ray Horton mentioned how he felt the Dolphins would miss Bess when he was talking about the Dolphins' receivers.
"I'm glad we have Davone Bess here," Horton said Thursday. "He's a critical part of what Miami used to do, and I think they've lost something in what they used to do and I'm glad he's here now."
Bess has been slowed with tendinitis in his knee, but he isn't concerned.
"From a mental standpoint, I'm ready to go and my knee is fine."
Bess said he has a full grasp of the offense.
"I was fortunate to come over in the spring, so I got here at the beginning of the OTAs," he said "So from that to training camp to preseason to the regular season now has definitely given me the amount of reps that I needed in order to pick up the chemistry and be able to fill that void wherever I'm needed at. I think Norv and the coaches have put us in position to make plays, but most of all retaining information."
Bess said he harbors no bitter feelings against the Dolphins, who gave him an opportunity as an undrafted free agent from Hawaii.
"It would be easy getting emotional this week, but I want to treat this game like its any other," he said. "We all know the NFL is a business. When I got traded, it was in the best interests of the Miami Dolphins.
"For the most part, there is still mutual respect. but there is a little part of you that always wants to show a team that they made a mistake."
Benjamin is excited to get the opportunity.
"It's a great opportunity for me knowing I'm the next man up and just going in there and taking advantage of the plays I'm in and hopefully, I'll come out and play well," he said. "It's a pretty good feeling knowing we get to go out there and showcase our talents."
He is expected to be busy as he also returns punts and might be called upon to also return kickoffs, but he feels he's up for it.
"I'm in great shape knowing that I can do return kickoff, return offense," he said. "I'm just ready to go out and play.
"It's not a lot," he said. "I've done it plenty of times before (in college)."
Benjamin didn't play a lot in the preseason, with just three receptions, but he did return a punt 93 yards for a touchdown.
"In the preseason, it was kind of a game plan that I would be in certain situations and we had some three-and-outs or the other side had the ball too long," he said. "There just wasn't the right opportunity, so hopefully, in the Dolphins game there will be more opportunities."
Benjamin thinks he and Bess will handle the role just fine.
"We'll do good," Benjamin said. "If I'm in, I'll tell (Bess) what I see him in the game or when he comes off the field, he will tell me what he sees in the game and the opportunities.
"Knowing that it's the next man up mentality, even though I'm in or Davone is in, we know when the ball comes our way, we have to make the most of our opportunities.
"We just want to play our game, whether it's a deep (pass) early and take advantage of every play that is called."
Bess said he has a simple focus.
"My only goal is trying to get the Cleveland Browns a win against the Miami Dolphins."
