4 Browns defensive players that shined in preseason opener

With the Cleveland Browns first preseason game in the rearview, let’s look at four defensive players that stood out in Jacksonville.

The Cleveland Browns preseason opener is in the books. Now it is time to throw it on the table and perform the autopsy.

While there were plenty of negative issues early in the glorified scrimmage, today we are going to highlight four defenders who stood out and made their presence felt in Jacksonville.

4 Browns defensive players who shined in the preseason opener

Defensive Standout No. 4: Jordan Elliott

First things first, if we’re going to talk about Jordan Elliott’s performance in Friday night’s preseason opener we should start with the elephant in the room. Elliott has drastically altered his physique this offseason. Bluntly, the man is now jacked.

While you should always be leery of camp speak, such as “so and so has transformed his body this offseason,” in Elliott’s case the claim is undeniable. The added bulk should aid Elliott as defensive coordinator Joe Woods is playing the young man as the team’s shade tech defensive tackle. A role the Browns have been unable to successfully fill for the past two seasons.

The added muscle didn’t appear to slow Elliott down on Friday night. The third-year defensive tackle flashed after a quick-change turnover forced Cleveland’s defense back on the field after a D’Ernest Johnson fumble. Elliott used an inside jab to outside spin move to beat Jacksonville’s left guard, Tyler Shatley, and then stormed Trevor Lawrence and violently threw him down forcing the quarterback to nearly fumble the football.

While Elliott was unable to get the sack or force a turnover, his effort was instrumental in setting the tone for the drive that ended in a three-and-out field goal on a short field turnover. At the end of the day, when a defense is put in that unenviable position, that is a best-case scenario.

For Elliott, who is only 24 years old, 2022 is a pivotal season for his future in Cleveland. If Friday night is any indication, Elliott is putting his best foot forward and looking to carve out a permanent spot for himself on the Browns’ defensive line. Next week’s joint practices and subsequent preseason game with the Philadelphia Eagles should be a better measuring stick for Elliott and this defensive tackle room.