The Browns’ second preseason game on Saturday gives a few players a real chance to make noise, and the timing matters even more with Buffalo coming to Cleveland and fans finally back in the building.
The most obvious name is Shedeur Sanders. That’s the easy pick, but it fits.
He’ll get the start with the first team, and this is his shot to show why he belongs nowhere near the bench. Sanders had some bright moments in Chicago, including a 35-yard throw down the middle of the field to Luke Floriea, but the night ended on a rough note when he overthrew Malachi Corley in the fourth quarter and the ball landed in Beanie Bishop Jr.’s hands.
With the fan base behind him on the banks of Lake Erie, he’ll be looking to put points on the board.
Up front, the right guard job is still very much up for grabs. Wyatt Jenkins started the first preseason game and handled himself well over 10 snaps, which gives him a solid opening to strengthen his hold on the spot.
He’s also got KT Leveston pushing him after Leveston worked most of the first preseason snaps at guard following his move inside. Jenkins still looks like the Week 1 starter, but another clean showing with the ones would make that case even stronger.
On defense, the spotlight shifts to the backups, and Easton Mascarenas-Arnold has already given the Browns something to think about. He logged 32 snaps against Chicago and came away with six total tackles, including three solo stops. He and Reuben Reid paired up well on the inside for 10 total tackles, and Reid’s performance stands out as he tries to keep climbing the depth chart.
Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams are set to be the main linebackers, but Reid is in the mix with other young defenders such as Justin Jefferson and Nathaniel Watson for the third linebacker job in Mike Rutenberg’s attacking defense.
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 🡒]