The Browns’ preseason opener didn’t just end in a 34-10 loss to the Bears. It also made life harder for a few players trying to hang onto a roster spot.
Some guys helped themselves in Chicago. Others missed the chance entirely. And for four Browns in particular, the margin for error is getting awfully thin.
Dawand Jones had a chance to strengthen his case at tackle, but the extended look didn’t really move the needle. He played 50 percent of the snaps after starter Spencer Fano’s day was done, yet he struggled to set the pocket and never looked like he fully separated himself in the swing tackle battle.
Austin Barber, even with a subpar outing of his own and an ankle injury that briefly slowed him down, appears to have the edge. Jones had come into camp with positive buzz after slimming down, but that momentum has faded.
With three season-ending injuries in three NFL seasons, the Browns may not be eager to keep waiting.
At tight end, Joe Royer’s situation is even more precarious because he wasn’t even on the field. Royer stayed away from the team while dealing with an undisclosed personal matter, which means he missed all of training camp and had no timetable to return.
That opened the door for fellow rookie Carsen Ryan, who took 45 percent of the snaps and made a strong impression as a blocker. Royer had looked like a possible second pass-catching tight end behind Harold Fannin Jr., but that picture is much murkier now.
Raheim Sanders also left the opener with more questions than answers. The running back, listed as the third option on the unofficial depth chart, played just 14 snaps on offense and five on special teams, and he worked behind Ahmani Marshall in the Bears game.
Sanders finished with nine rushing yards on two carries and added two catches for seven yards. Marshall, meanwhile, caught three passes for 19 yards and logged 25 total snaps.
With Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson ahead of them and Michael Burton possibly in the mix at fullback, the opportunities behind them are going to be scarce.
Cedric Tillman’s issue is different, but the result is the same: he’s losing ground fast. He missed the preseason opener with an undisclosed injury, and that’s become a familiar problem.
The Browns have every reason to grow impatient if he keeps missing time, especially with roster-bubble players making noise. Luke Floriea flashed with a 35-yard catch from Shedeur Sanders, and Gage Larvadain was active all over the field on offense and special teams.
With KC Concepcion, Jerry Jeudy, Denzel Boston, and Isaiah Bond all expected to make the roster, there aren’t many spots left to fight over. Every missed day makes Tillman’s path tougher.
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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 🡒]