4 Browns players that must come up big in Preseason Week 1

No. 3 – Jedrick Wills

If the Browns are going to be without Watson, they are going to need to see a major leap from left tackle, Jedrick Wills. This isn’t to say Wills has been bad in his first two seasons, but injuries have certainly slowed his progression down more than some would like.

Wills had a nasty ankle sprain early in the 2021 season and looking back he should have taken some more time off to let it heal. There were times he was on the field and you could tell it was all he could do to walk. In his defense, the backup options were not good either, so the pressure was there for him to fight through it.

With two full seasons under his belt at left tackle, and mentoring from Bill Callahan and Joe Thomas, this Friday could be a defining moment for Wills. Remember, he will be going against the No. 1 pick from 2022, Travon Walker.

Typically, you may not see a guy like Wills get a ton of snaps in a Week 1 preseason game, but I think the staff will want to see him against Walker in a few live snaps. Both Watson and Jacoby Brissett are extremely athletic and can get away from some pressure, but there’s no doubt it’s easier to be successful in that pocket with no pressure from the blindside.