The quarterback competition remains the center of gravity in Berea, but it wasn’t the only thing Browns fans had to chew on after a busy Monday. Day 14 of training camp landed on August 17, and with a big week ahead in the QB battle, the stakes around every rep feel a little heavier than they did a few days ago.
That was also true for the preseason opener, where the Browns got a little bit of everything and not always in the way they wanted. The wide receiver group continued to stand out in camp, a sharp contrast to where things were a year ago, and that carried over into the first game.
Quarterback play, though, was a mixed bag. Each passer turned it over once, and that kind of mistake doesn’t exactly help a competition that’s already under the microscope.
There were other problems tucked inside that loss to Chicago, too. The Browns’ defense still looks pretty solid for the regular season, but the depth chart behind the first couple of units raised real concerns once the preseason game got rolling. Injuries in the secondary have been piling up during camp, and the drop-off after the top groups was hard to ignore in spots.
One of the more interesting offseason threads also got another turn. Za’Darius Smith, after a Sunday afternoon report said he was expected to rejoin the Browns following a visit to Berea, appeared to push back on that idea by posting on social media that he had another workout lined up with another team before deleting the comment. That mystery didn’t last long: now the other team is known.
On the rookie front, OT Spencer Fano drew national praise after the first preseason game. For Cleveland, that matters because the evaluation isn’t just about the names that grab headlines.
The offensive and defensive lines still matter, and so do first-round picks. Fano, the first offensive lineman taken in the 2026 NFL draft, is in the mix to see whether he can lock down Cleveland’s left tackle spot as a rookie.
Another rookie, KC Concepcion, also had a preseason debut worth noting, even if he probably would’ve preferred a cleaner first outing. The Browns wideout showed versatility against Chicago, and that was enough to stand out in a game that didn’t go the way Cleveland hoped.
The Bears game itself ended up being more frustrating than the Browns likely expected. The result may not mean much on paper, but in a preseason setting tied to a starting quarterback decision, it still carried some weight. Cleveland came away with positives and negatives, and the questions around the roster stretch beyond quarterback.
That uncertainty will keep rolling into this week, when Shedeur Sanders is set up for another chance to make his case. He may not have many Browns starters alongside him against the Bills if the team gets enough out of Thursday’s joint practice in Berea. Todd Monken said most starters will rest Saturday in that scenario, while Deshaun Watson is still scheduled to play the third quarter despite the joint work.
Monken’s approach keeps the competition alive, and that’s exactly why Sanders’ next stretch matters so much. He needs a huge week if he wants to win the job, or at least keep the race going. The chance is there; now it’s on him to take it.
Beyond the field, the Browns also gave fans a look at what’s coming next. The franchise will finish its time on the lakefront after the 2028 season and move to Brook Park for its new stadium in 2029, but supporters won’t have to wait three years to get a sense of the future. The Browns opened the Browns Experience Center in Berea on Monday, a showcase for what’s ahead.
In Other News...
Browns Just Made Shedeur Sanders' Long Term Outlook Feel Much Clearer
Todd Monken has already given Cleveland a pretty clear look at how the quarterback work is going to be divided this preseason. Shedeur Sanders got first-team reps on Monday, while Deshaun Watson handled the top unit on Tuesday, a setup that says plenty about where each player stands as the Browns sort through the early stages of camp and try to shape Sanders development without rushing the process.
The bigger picture is the one that matters most for Cleveland, because the team appears to be mapping out a future that still runs through Watson in the short term while leaving room for Sanders to grow into a bigger role later. For a young quarterback trying to build credibility in a crowded room, that kind of structure can be meaningful, and it is why the way the Browns manage the next stretch of preseason work will be watched closely. [Read more 🡒]
Browns May Have Found A Preseason Underdog Fans Should Watch
Michael Coats Jr. has taken an unconventional route to get here, moving from community college football to West Virginia before landing with the Browns as an undrafted free agent. In a preseason that tends to sort out long-shot hopefuls from real roster candidates, he has given Cleveland something to think about with a strong defensive showing.
Coats turned heads with an interception and earned a strong Pro Football Focus grade, the kind of early evidence that can keep a player in the conversation as roster decisions get tighter. For a Browns team always looking for depth and upside, his preseason work has made him one of those under-the-radar names worth tracking as the competition continues. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Roster Bubble Just Got More Dangerous After Uneven Debut
The Browns first preseason game did little to clarify the back end of the roster, and for a few players it may have made the picture even murkier. After the loss to the Bears, Dawand Jones, Joe Royer, Raheim Sanders and Cedric Tillman all found themselves lumped into the group most likely sweating the final cutdown, with each carrying a different kind of concern heading into the next stretch of evaluation.
Jones uneven showing came at a particularly awkward time, with other bubble players turning in more convincing reps and tightening the race for jobs that once looked more settled. Royers situation has been even harder to measure because he has been away from the team for a personal matter, Sanders did not make much of his limited snaps, and Tillman was unavailable because of injury, leaving the Browns with more questions than answers as the roster begins to take shape. [Read more 🡒]