The Browns left their second preseason game with the same ugly result they had in the opener: a blowout loss and a whole lot to sort through before the final tune-up. Cleveland managed only one touchdown in a 31-7 defeat to the Bills, and with one preseason game left, the picture at quarterback and along the depth chart is getting a little clearer.
The biggest storyline remains the battle under center, and Saturday gave one quarterback a much stronger case than the other. Both Shedeur Sanders and Deshaun Watson got starts across the first two preseason games, but this one leaned heavily in Sanders’ direction.
He finished 9 of 11 for 74 yards and a touchdown in his half, and while he also threw an interception, the ball hit the receiver and that mistake didn’t define his night. Watson, on the other hand, went 5 of 12 for 35 yards and never found any rhythm.
The offense stalled over and over again, piling up three-and-outs while he was in the game.
That comes after a first preseason outing where Watson looked steadier. Against mostly Bears starters, he showed poise, led a touchdown drive and still had an ugly turnover when pressure got to him.
Sanders had a mixed first game too, with a decent showing offset by a bad turnover and some rough drives. But game two was different.
Sanders looked more composed, made better decisions and simply gave the Browns more of a chance to move the ball.
The defense had its own rough night, and the fact that no starters were on the field showed. Cleveland got a few bright spots - a sack from Mike Hall, good play recognition from Nathaniel Watson and Winston Reid, and an impressive day from Donovan McMillon - but the unit as a whole had too many missed tackles and too many busted coverages.
The Bills averaged four yards per carry, and Frank Gore Jr. went for more than 50 yards on just nine attempts. The defensive line wasn’t getting much push, and the rest of the defense couldn’t clean up the mess.
Coverage was just as shaky. Tre Avery and Michael Coats were supposed to be backup corners who could help, but both were attacked early and often and couldn’t hold up consistently. With injuries already thinning that side of the roster, depth is becoming a real concern, and the Browns are going to have some tough calls when it comes to who sticks around.
If the defense was a problem, the offensive line gave Cleveland something to feel better about. For long stretches, the Bills couldn’t generate much of a pass rush, even with five starters sitting out, and Sanders spent most of his time with a clean pocket.
KT Leveston stood out at left tackle, handling protection well and showing up as a lead blocker on multiple snaps. One screen pass in particular summed up his day, when he sold getting beat inside before steering his man away from the play.
Dawand Jones, Luke Wypler and Austin Barber also turned in strong performances, and all three may have done enough to lock up roster spots as dependable backups. Zak Zinter was the final name that popped. He had some penalty issues, but he also showed real growth from where he’s been the last few seasons and may be earning another opportunity with the Browns.
In Other News...
Browns Preseason Rout Put One Young QB Suddenly In Focus
The Browns preseason trip to Buffalo ended in a 31-7 loss, but the score line did not tell the whole story for Clevelands quarterback room. Shedeur Sanders made the most of his snaps, throwing with enough rhythm to complete a high percentage of his passes and guide a scoring drive, the kind of showing that can shift the conversation even in August.
Deshaun Watsons third-quarter work did not have the same clean look, which only sharpened the contrast on a night when Cleveland still found encouraging signs elsewhere. Mike Hall Jr., Luke Floriea, Donovan McMillon and Kole Wilson also turned in positive moments, but the bigger question now is whether Sanders performance was just a preseason flash or the start of something more interesting for the Browns. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Fans Are Suddenly Split Over Shedeur Sanders Noise
Shedeur Sanders has quickly become one of the more talked-about names around the Browns, and not just because of what he might do on the field. Since Cleveland selected him in last years draft, the quarterback has drawn a growing split between parts of the fan base and the local media, with some supporters pushing back hard against the criticism they feel he is getting.
Todd Monken added another layer to the conversation by saying the Browns will announce their starter soon, with the opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars set for Sept. 13. For now, there has been no official word on any roster move involving Sanders, but the noise around him has only made the quarterback discussion feel more charged as the regular season gets closer. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Edge Rush Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The Browns had already spent the offseason trying to stabilize the edge, and then Alex Wrights injury turned a lingering need into a real problem. Wright is expected to miss the season with an Achilles injury, leaving Cleveland to reshuffle a defensive end group that had counted on his development since the team drafted him in 2022. Over 51 games, he had become a familiar part of the rotation, which made the timing especially difficult for a defense still trying to find its best shape.
Derek Barnett is the latest answer, giving Cleveland a veteran presence with nine NFL seasons behind him. It is the kind of move teams make when they need someone who can step in quickly and understand the job without much ramp-up time, and it adds a proven body to a position that suddenly looks thinner than it did a few weeks ago. The bigger question now is how the Browns plan to manage the rest of the edge depth as they wait to see how the rest of the room settles. [Read more 🡒]