One down, three to go. The Cleveland Browns will welcome the Washington (checks notes) Commanders to the shores of Lake Erie for their lone home preseason game of 2023. The Browns are coming off a 21-16 victory in the Hall of Fame Game where several rookies made impressive debuts.
This preseason contest should resemble a more formulaic structure where some starters play a series or two. But the meat and potatoes of this game will be carried out by the bottom two-thirds of each team’s rosters. Here are three big storylines that should play out for the Browns in Friday night’s exhibition.
Browns storyline No. 1: Can Cade York inspire confidence?
After a roller coaster of a rookie season, including 58-yard game-winners and missed chip shots, Cade York got off to a bumpy start in 2023. On the Browns opening drive of the preseason, he came in to attempt a 49-yard field goal. The snap was good, the hold was good, and the kick was… wide-right.
His ensuing extra point attempt was shaky but went through the uprights. York was able to navigate the rest of the game without incurring any additional errors, but the lasting memory from York’s performance will be the errant field goal to start the game.
Cleveland needs York to get on track in a hurry. For the majority of the roster, preseason is an extension of the practice field, but for specialists like York, it's a true game condition. Every kick matters and the Browns need to know that York is the guy for the job.
If York has any hiccups against Washington, then Andrew Berry will need to consider bringing in another kicker for competition and as a contingency plan. This team is too all in to go into the season with a kicker with a case of the yips.
Browns storyline No. 2: Will a defensive tackle actually step up?
This is the elephant in the room. During the Hall of Fame Game, the Browns defense was flying around, making plays, and playing with a ton of energy. However, the one positional group that didn’t get in on the fun was the defensive tackle room.
The biggest problem with the defensive tackles not showing out last Thursday was the fact that they actually had a ‘starter’ out there. Jordan Elliott, who is listed as a starter, actually played in the Hall of Fame game. Elliott was the only ‘starter’ to see action against the Jets, and his performance didn't separate him from the pack. In fact, it did the opposite.
On the #Browns unofficial depth chart, Jordan Elliott is the only player listed as a starter that is playing in the Hall of Fame game. https://t.co/hI8GbtVlPu
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) August 3, 2023
Another DT the Browns were hoping to see some life out of was Maurice Hurst. Unfortunately, Hurst looked like a player who hasn’t played football since October of 2021. Which maybe the team anticipated and is going to allow Hurst to play through his inevitable rust.
Right now, the Browns only have Dalvin Tomlinson whom they can count on to be stalwart in their interior defense. Siaki Ika showed some promise as a run defender in the Hall of Fame Game but counting on a rookie to handle a ton of snaps at that position is a massive gamble.
Will another defensive tackle already on the roster step up against the Commanders on Friday?
Between this upcoming preseason game and next week’s joint practices in Philadelphia, the Browns should have all the information they need to assess whether or not they need to bring in defensive tackle free agents.
Browns storyline No. 3: Has DTR surpassed Kellen Mond on the depth chart?
The Browns have a decision to make on their quarterback depth chart and it needs to be made in a hurry. With game reps being at a premium for quarterback development, they cannot afford to delay their decision.
If the coaching staff and front office were basing their quarterback depth chart off their performances in the Hall of Fame Game, then this is a no-brainer. Dorian-Thompson Robinson was clearly the more effective signal caller last Thursday. However, this decision includes more factors than what the fans witnessed play out in Canton.
Obviously how Mond and Thompson-Robinson are performing on the practice field will be a part of the equation, but what transpires in the quarterback meeting room could prove to be the deciding factor.
Ultimately, the team used draft equity on DTR which tells you that his promotion is an eventuality. Additionally, with the new active roster provision that allows for a third quarterback to not count against a team’s gameday roster, getting DTR game ready is a priority.
DTR works hard on his fundamentals. Attention to detail. #Browns pic.twitter.com/mSknH0FDrQ
— Lance Reisland (Coach Riz) (@LanceReisland) August 7, 2023
The Brown’s vision for Thompson-Robinson, when they called his name during the 2023 NFL Draft, was for him to be the team’s eventual backup to Deshaun Watson. A backup with a considerable skillset that fits their system and possesses a starter’s upside. Frankly, it would be malpractice to not give Mond’s game reps to DTR on Friday.