5 Cleveland Browns with the most to lose in Preseason Week 2

With one preseason game already in the books, these five Cleveland Browns players have the most to lose in Week 2 against Philadelphia

The Cleveland Browns head into their second preseason game with plenty of questions that need to be answered. There are still a few starting spots on the line and several rotational roles are up for grabs.

With Philadelphia coming to Berea for joint practices before their preseason matchup, a handful of players will seal their fate in Cleveland, one way or another.

5 Browns with the most to lose in Preseason Week 2

Player No. 5: Ethan Pocic

One of the major questions heading into the 2022 season was how Nick Harris would do filling the starting center role. It turns out that this question will have to wait until 2023 at the earliest before we get an answer. After suffering a season-ending injury on the second play of the first preseason game, Harris’ season was over before it began.

Now there’s a new question. Is Ethan Pocic going to be able to handle being the starting center in the Browns offense? Pocic has NFL starting experience from his time with the Seattle Seahawks. With 40 starts at center to his credit, Pocic will get the opportunity to run with the ones against Philadelphia.

Pocic is absolutely huge for a center, listed at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. The veteran is going to need every bit of that size this week against Philadelphia. Whether or not the Eagles decide to sit some of the veterans for the game, they will still get some reps in their joint practices.

For Pocic, and the rest of Cleveland’s offensive line, Fletcher Cox and the massive rookie, Jordan Davis, should prove to be excellent measuring sticks. If Pocic is able to hold his own, it could go a long way in instilling confidence with Bill Callahan and the coaching staff.

But outside of the physicality, Pocic will need to display, he will also need to show that he’s athletic enough to operate within the stretch zone scheme as well as the pin and pull plays that Stefanski loves to dial up. He will have the advantage of playing between two elite guards in Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller, which could help mask some of Pocic’s deficiencies.

However, one thing that can not be masked by the talent around him will be Pocic’s ability to call out and adjust protections. It will be a sink or swim moment for the six-year veteran. If Pocic is able to stand out, he may lock down the gig for the foreseeable future.