A long day in Berea left the Browns with some encouraging tape, a few fresh questions, and one very clear reminder of what elite quarterback play looks like.
Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen sliced through the defense during Thursday’s joint practice, showing the kind of easy command that made Cleveland’s offense look like it was chasing the standard instead of setting it. The Browns did have answers in spots, though, and a handful of players used the matchup to make noise.
One of the biggest winners was Dylan Sampson. With Quinshon Judkins held out because of something minor, according to Browns head coach Todd Monken, Sampson took advantage of the extra work.
He was a steady outlet for Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders, piling up checkdowns that fit neatly into what his role should be this season. He also popped a few bigger runs, including one in the final 11-on-11 period.
On the other side of the ball, Cleveland had the misfortune of seeing Allen at his best. Buffalo’s offense may not be loaded with eye-popping playmakers, but Allen made the whole operation hum anyway, attacking downfield and finding the weak points in coverage. The clearest example came late in 11-on-11 work, when he took advantage of a blown assignment and hit Dalton Kincaid for the longest touchdown of the day.
The Browns also got a jolt from Taylen Green, who made the most of his limited chances against Buffalo’s reserves. The 6-foot-6 quarterback put together an eye-catching redzone sequence, throwing a touchdown to Tylan Wallace and then adding a rushing score of his own.
After practice, Monken was clearly impressed. “First of all, he's so damn smart.
I mean that dude's smart as heck,” Monken said. “To go out there and function when we hardly ever give him reps?
I mean, I love that dude."
Green is set to see preseason action in the finale against the New England Patriots.
There was also a scare on the defensive side when Alex Wright was carted to the locker room. Monken did not have an immediate update on the defensive end after practice, but the timing is brutal for a Browns defensive line that was already thin.
Cleveland tried to bring in Jadeveon Clowney and Za’Darius Smith this summer, but both ended up elsewhere. Wright is supposed to start on Cleveland’s defense on the other side of Jared Verse.
Another offensive bright spot came from Concepcion, who reminded everyone why he was a first round pick against Buffalo. Denzel Boston’s big catch radius has been one of camp’s talking points, but Concepcion answered with two long catches from Watson and a little extra edge along the way. During the joint sessions, he was chippy and talked smack to the Bills defense, then backed it up with the day’s offensive highlights.
Watson and Sanders both worked with the starters, but neither has pulled away in the quarterback competition. That leaves the Browns still searching for a clear answer under center, with the conversation likely stretching all the way to April and the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class, which is expected to be one of the best in recent history.
In Other News...
Browns Offense Finally Showed Something Fans Have Been Waiting For
A joint practice against the Bills gave the Browns a chance to measure themselves against another roster, and for once the offense came away with something to build on. Head coach Todd Monken said Cleveland looked like it belonged on the field, a notable step for a group that has spent much of camp trying to find its footing. There were still mistakes and some injuries to sort through, but the overall impression was more encouraging than the usual late-summer noise around an offense still trying to settle in.
The offensive line also showed progress, which matters just as much as any flashier moment in practice because it sets the tone for everything else. Cleveland still has a long way to go before anyone can draw conclusions about the season opener, but this was the kind of day that can hint at a unit starting to mesh. For a Browns team looking for signs of cohesion, it was at least a reminder that the offense may be moving in the right direction. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Quarterback Uncertainty Could Put Rival Cutdown Decision In Focus
After the first week of preseason, Cleveland still does not have a clear answer under center for 2026, and that uncertainty is starting to frame everything the Browns do at quarterback. Shedeur Sanders, Deshaun Watson and the rest of the room have all had uneven moments, leaving the team with more questions than answers as the evaluation process continues into the rest of August.
Across the state line, Pittsburghs own quarterback decision has become a subplot worth watching, with Mason Rudolph, Will Howard and Drew Allar all tied to the Steelers roster picture. Howard, a former Ohio State quarterback, made a strong preseason debut and is now the kind of player Cleveland could have in mind if he ends up available, giving the Browns one more possible name to monitor while their own competition remains unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Quinshon Judkins Injury Should Ease One Big Browns Concern
Quinshon Judkins has been working through a nagging injury during training camp and the preseason, which kept the Browns running back out of practice for stretches at a time. Even so, head coach Todd Monken has framed the absence as precautionary, and the early read is that Cleveland is not dealing with a major setback as it builds toward the start of the season.
For a Browns team that is counting on Judkins to lead the backfield in 2026, that matters. He enters the year as the expected feature back and a player with real fantasy football appeal, so every missed practice naturally draws attention, but the current outlook suggests Cleveland may be able to move past one of its bigger camp concerns without it turning into a season-opening problem. [Read more 🡒]