Browns vs. Jets: 5 players to watch on Sunday

Jul 30, 2015; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (80) works out during training camp at the Cleveland Browns practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

The Browns brought in wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to be a veteran presence on and off the field.

Bowe has filled the off-the-field role nicely, now it is time for him to fulfill the second part of the bargain.

A hamstring issue limited Bowe’s availability in the preseason to the point where the Browns had him play well into the third quarter of the final preseason game. Bowe is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Jets and is currently behind both Brian Hartline and Travis Benjamin on the team’s depth chart.

Not a good start for a player who has seen his yardage totals drop each of the past three seasons, and who has not caught a touchdown pass since Week 13 of the 2013 NFL season.

“I feel good (just) a little sore,” Bowe said on Friday. “With a hamstring, you have to work into it. You can’t put too much stress on it. You have to be smart because they can nag all season, and that is something that you don’t want coming from a playmaker is a nagging injury. Right now, I am just going out there, getting better and not putting too much strain on it so I can get out there and play.

“I expect to (play on Sunday). I expect this hamstring to be knocked out, but only time will tell. I have to rest it and rehab it and just keep working every day to get out there.”

The Browns have $9 million in guaranteed money invested in Bowe, so his roster spot was never in question. But making the roster and seeing the field on game day are two different things.

It’s time for Bowe to start earning that money.

Next: Next man up