The Cleveland Browns enter preseason Week 3 with several players looking to make their mark on the squad and secure a roster spot
One big story going into the Cleveland Browns preseason finale against the Chicago Bears was announced on Thursday that quarterback Jacoby Brissett would be getting the start after not playing in the previous two games. The majority of starters for the Browns will be on the field this week and that’s a good thing.
With Cleveland and Chicago planning on starting their main units Saturday down at First Energy Stadium, we will get to see many players we haven’t seen play much during these preseason games. We’ll also see many players in the second half of the game that will need to perform well to make a claim for one of the final 53 on the roster when the team kicks off down in Charlotte on September 11th.
Let’s take a look at three players that really must stand out in this game to secure a spot on the final roster.
3 Cleveland Browns that need to stand out in preseason Week 3
No. 3: Demetric Felton, WR/RB/Kick Returner
Demetric Felton is in his second season with Cleveland. He’s a skilled player that can do a bit of everything for the Browns. Where he fits exactly on this squad is still a big talking point this offseason. Because he’s a versatile player he has gotten many props because of that but he hasn’t done much this preseason and for him to secure a spot on the team he must have a good showing Saturday.
Even though he’s an attractive player because of that versatility, he has a tough road due to talent around him — especially at running back. Many reports out of training camp show Felton working a lot in the wide receiver room and that very well could be how he secures his 53-man roster spot. There’s a huge need here as Cleveland has one talented All-Pro in Amari Cooper — but that’s it.
#Browns QBs throwing to WRs and Demetric Felton is still working with the receivers pic.twitter.com/7zUyvYfrGr
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) August 24, 2022
Will we see Felton taking kicks and punts back Saturday? That was one of his main duties a year ago. He’s been listed in the last two weeks as the primary special team player returning kicks. I don’t expect Felton to not make the team, but he was a late-round pick last season and could be a surprise cut next week.
No. 2: Josh Rosen, QB
Many of us Browns fans have decided that after that awful Week 2 preseason game effort by Josh Rosen that it’s just a matter of time before he’s cut after this final game. He hasn’t displayed much of anything to this point and cutting him after the game might be the most likely outcome. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski hasn’t exactly sounded like a guy that is completely sold on Rosen either.
Will the Browns just carry two quarterbacks into the regular season? They have in the past and suspect that is part of the behind-the-door discussions that are happening right now.
However, if Rosen can come into the latter stages of the game this week and at least make some passes that look like they were intended for a wide receiver, rather than landing 15 yards away, then maybe the Browns would roll with three quarterbacks.
Rosen has had a very disappointing career considering he was once considered a No. 1 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. We all know Cleveland settled on Baker Mayfield. But Rosen was highly touted coming out of UCLA.
He certainly can fire that ball with velocity but sometimes, the passes were almost too hot in last weekend’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Those throws were incompletions but what was more alarming were his passes that landed several yards away from the pass catchers.
If this situation in Cleveland doesn’t work out for the former Bruin, I’m afraid he’ll be out of the NFL altogether. Let’s see what he does Saturday night.
No. 1: Anthony Schwartz, WR
Anthony Schwartz has been in more conversations this preseason outside of Deshaun Watson and that’s not necessarily a good sign. Maybe it’s because Cleveland doesn’t seem to have a great wide receiver room coming into the regular season and many fans are trying to get behind a player or two in hopes they will work out.
Cleveland has one standout at receiver with Amari Cooper and they also drafted David Bell out of Purdue who seems to have a promising future. Donovan Peoples-Jones is entering year No. 3 and while we hope he flourishes, he still hasn’t proven he’s a legit No. 2 — although he did put up some good numbers in year two which is promising.
As for Schwartz, he’s supposed to be this track star who can separate from his defender and stretch the field — kind of like what we saw last Sunday when Eagles quarterback Reid Sinnett connected with rookie Devon Allen, also a former college track star.
Unfortunately, none of those types of easy touchdowns have happened yet and now there are questions if Schwartz can offer them up. He caught two passes for 20 yards and took a sweep handoff for an uninspiring four-yard gain. Some have suggested Schwartz made some progress, but I don’t see that type of effort as progress.
Schwartz needs to do some big things in this upcoming contest on Saturday. I’d love to see him take that sweep handoff and run for like 25 yards. He had that type of opportunity last season too and failed almost every time. Maybe we’ll Brissett throw a beautiful deep pass to a streaking Schwartz for a touchdown.
I’m not convinced that Schwartz is safe to make that final roster. I certainly hope he plays the game Saturday with some urgency.
There will be numerous other players, especially those in the third and fourth rotations that need to play well to try and sneak onto this team.