The Cleveland Browns are heading into Week 1 with a lot of moving parts and, somehow, a clear idea of what they want to be. The organization’s plan is built around one simple goal: “win football games.” That sounds obvious, but for Browns fans, it would be a welcome change.
The roster picture is still taking shape after a busy stretch that left the initial 53-man roster “up in flames” with multiple changes since Sunday afternoon. With a few days away from practice and several practice squad additions in the mix, the Browns’ depth chart is now best understood by combining the current 53-man roster with the practice squad.
That all comes as Cleveland starts looking ahead to its Week 1 preparation against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The team has a few days off before getting back to work, and the practice schedule is set to ramp up from there.
On the field, the Browns are also trying to answer bigger questions about how this defense holds together after losing two pillars of an elite unit over the course of a few months. Even with those departures, Cleveland still believes it can field one of the stingiest defenses in the NFL. The mix includes a new coordinator in Mike Rutenberg, the 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in Jared Verse to help lead the pass rush, and a strong group of returning talent.
There are individual storylines worth watching, too. Mike Hall Jr. said he had an eventful training camp, even though he missed two weeks of practice, and he also talked about the health of his surgically repaired knee as he eyes a breakout season.
Rookie KC Concepcion is also pushing to turn a strong camp into something bigger. His path has already included the Maurice Bassett Award, though where that honor fits among the rest of the accolades he has picked up - or might still pick up - is something only the Browns wide receiver can really say.
And then there’s the quarterback situation, where Todd Monken made clear he was “absolutely not” bothered by Browns fans’ reaction to Deshaun Watson being named the starter over Shedeur Sanders. Monken had given “zero consideration” to fan wishes when making the decision last month, and he is now not bothered by the overwhelmingly negative response.
Around the league, quarterback decisions are driving plenty of discussion, too. The Buccaneers appear to be putting more emphasis than ever on keeping Baker Mayfield healthy, especially with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels now elevated to No. 2 on the depth chart. In Las Vegas, the Raiders have named veteran Kirk Cousins the Week 1 starter over No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, a move that invites a close look at the logic behind it.
And for a broader snapshot of the league’s uncertainty, one assessment put together the NFL’s 10 worst quarterback situations, a reminder that this time of year usually brings optimism - unless a team enters the season already uneasy about the most important position on the field.
In Other News...
Browns Fans Have A New Front Office Flashpoint After Garrett Trade
The Browns decision to trade Myles Garrett to the Rams was already going to linger with Cleveland fans, and Andrew Berrys explanation only added another layer to the debate. The general manager framed the move as part of a long-term organizational strategy, a message that did little to calm a fan base still processing the loss of an All-Pro pass rusher.
Catherine Hickman then gave the reaction another jolt when she appeared at a media session wearing a Los Angeles Made Me Do It sweatshirt. The assistant GMs choice drew mixed responses online, with some fans taking it as a tone-deaf look after the Garrett deal and others defending it as harmless. Either way, it turned a difficult trade into yet another Browns front-office flashpoint. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have Found An Unexpected Offensive Line Answer
Zak Zinter spent the summer in a spot that can make or break a young lineman, working through the kind of roster crunch that usually leaves little room for patience. For a Browns offensive line trying to sort out its depth before the season, the interior blockers camp and preseason progress gave the staff a reason to keep watching, and his improvement drew praise from head coach Todd Monken.
Zinter ended up surviving cutdowns and making the 53-man roster, which changes the conversation around him from fringe candidate to a player the Browns can actually count on in a reserve role. For a team that knows how quickly the line can be tested, finding a reliable depth piece inside is no small thing, and Zinter now looks like one of the more useful surprises on the roster. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Final Roster Call Sparks A Risky Defense Debate
The Browns move to get down to 53 players brought one of the more revealing decisions of the late-summer roster cutdown: keeping 34-year-old fullback Michael Burton despite his recent injury history. Head coach Todd Monken said Burton stayed part of the plan because of his experience and the role he fills in the offense, a sign Cleveland values a veteran stabilizer even as the roster gets pared down to its essentials.
At the same time, the Browns moved on from cornerback Michael Coats Jr. and sent other young defensive players to the practice squad, which is where the real debate starts to sharpen. Cleveland is banking on depth and development on defense, but the choices at the back end of the roster leave room to wonder how much margin the unit has if injuries start piling up early. [Read more 🡒]