Cleveland Browns vs. Atlanta Falcons preseason

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Terrelle Pryor after scoring on a 50-yards pass from quarterback Robert Griffin III during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium. Celebrating with Pryor is guard John Greco Thursday, Aug. 18, 2016. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

(Joshua Gunter)

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Terrelle Pryor already has the requisite swagger for a star NFL receiver.

Asked about his 50-yard touchdown catch from Robert Griffin III over Pro Bowler Desmond Trufant during Thursday's 24-13 loss to the Falcons in the preseason game, Pryor didn't hesitate.

"I knew I had him when we called the play,'' Pryor said. "I knew I was going to beat him.''

When told that Trufant has been clocked at 4.38 in the 40, Pryor said, "He has? I'm fast.''

In fact, Pryor, who got behind the fourth-year pro down the right sideline, also ran a 4.38 on his Pro Day -- so it was even steven until the lights came on Thursday night and Pryor flipped on the afterburner jets.

"I beat the corner and got past him and scored,'' Pryor, the former NFL and Ohio State quarterback said nonchalantly, like he's been doing this for 10 years.

As for plucking the ball cleanly off his hip, Pryor made it sound easy.

"If the ball's anywhere in your area you try to make the catch,'' he said. "It was a good ball, great protection.''

He doesn't even recall if Trufant laid a hand on him at the line. Why complicate things? See the ball, catch the ball.

"I didn't even see it, I don't know,'' said Pryor. "I just know we were running with each other and I just went past him. I don't remember.''

Pryor's TD from Griffin followed last week's 49-yarder on the first play in Green Bay. It was also a familiar sight to regulars at training camp and organized team activities.

"We've been like that all camp,'' said Pryor. "All minicamp, all OTAs, it's just now people are seeing it.''

Even the chemistry between the two is simpler than folks realize.

"The guy can throw a deep ball,'' said Pryor. "That's what I've caught so far.''

A former quarterback under Hue Jackson in Oakland, Pryor ranks Griffin's long ball with some of the best he's seen.

"He can throw it very good,'' said Pryor. "Carson Palmer, Jason Campbell, those guys can throw it, too. He's up there with those guys.''

For Griffin's part, he loves throwing to receiver who thinks like a quarterback. He knows what he needs, and when.

"TP's been making plays all camp, really all off-season,'' said Griffin, who also hit Gary Barnidge with a 29-yard TD pass. "It's been an amazing transition for him, I think everybody's excited for TP. I'm a quarterback, he's a quarterback ... so it's just been really cool to see the transformation. And you can see the vibe on the sideline whenever TP makes a play. Everybody's excited for him because they know how hard of a transition it's been for him.''

No one knows that more than Jackson, who pushed for Pryor to become a receiver after he cut him as a quarterback in Cincinnati in 2015. Now, Jackson is reaping the benefits of that decision.

"It means they better back up 'cause he'll run by you,'' said Jackson. "He's made some huge plays. But he's got to continue to get better. He does. There was a couple times from an illegal formation standpoint, it could have been called. It wasn't, but we've got to make sure we shore all that up because the season's around the corner, and we've got to be much better than what we were tonight."

Pryor was pragmatic about his progress.

"I continue to get better,'' he said. "I want to get better and make plays when I have an opportunity. I control what I can control and try do the best I can.''