A 31-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals was how the Cleveland Browns regular season ended. Without any context, that might seem like a concerning loss but that wasn't the case. With their spot in the playoffs locked up, the Browns rested their top players and even went with Jeff Driskel under center.
After a slow start, Driskel hit David Bell for a couple of touchdowns late in the game. Perhaps that was enough for him to move into the QB2 role or maybe they'll stick with P.J. Walker who was the backup before Driskel arrived.
What we do know is that several players were given a chance to prove themselves in the finale. Some rose to the occasion — including Bell and defensive end Alex Wright. Others left something to be desired. Here, we look at the latter with three players who don't need to see the field in the postseason.
3. Jordan Akins, TE
Cleveland has one of the best tight ends in the NFL right now in David Njoku. The seventh-year tight end had career highs in receptions (81), yardage (882), and touchdowns (6). Cleveland hoped they would be able to go two deep when it came to receiving threats at the position after signing Jordan Akins this offseason to pair with the explosive Njoku.
Akins was unable to live up to expectations and entered this one with just 12 receptions for 108 yards with no touchdowns. In Week 18, he started with Njoku resting and should have been seen as a safety valve for Jeff Driskel — especially since they played together in Houston.
He did have a season-high three receptions for 24 yards but he had two drops and struggled with blocking. Akins might wind up being a cap casualty in the offseason and right now, it makes more sense to play Harrison Bryant over him. The fourth-year tight end might not be a game-breaker but he's been able to step up when needed, especially in the red zone.
2. Matthew Adams, LB
One player who was signed for a specific reason this year was Matthew Adams. A special teams ace, he was supposed to help shore things up on punt and kickoff coverage — especially since he had experience working with new special teams coach Bubba Ventrone in Indianapolis.
He did well all year on coverage teams and was even able to force a fumble in Week 17 against the New York Jets. That loose ball was recovered by Mike Ford, who was also signed to improve their special teams. This week, he was asked to play on the base defense and that proved to be an issue.
Adams had a couple of hard hits, which is what makes him so good on special teams but he was a liability in coverage. He also whiffed on a couple of tackles including a long run from Chase Brown. Adams had a free shot on that one and should have took him down for a loss but he didn't wrap up the running back. Instead, he dove for the hard hit and missed, allowing Brown to shoot through the hole.
None of this is to say Adams shouldn't be on the field for special teams. That's where he excels. But right now, they would be better served to look for another option to fill in for their base defense if needed. That's concerning with Anthony Walker out in the playoffs. They can lean on Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Tony Fields but if anyone misses time, it could be a problem.
1. Siaki Ika, DT
In need of more depth on the interior of their line, the Browns used their second pick in Round 3 on Baylor nose tackle Siaki Ika. Some were thrilled at the pick due to his sheer size — and recognizable name. Ika played at 357 pounds for Baylor and was seen as a strong run-stuffer but he had questionable athleticism.
He dropped more than 20 pounds for the Scouting Combine, coming in at 335 pounds. That helped him put up better numbers since he was lighter but that led to more concerns. Or at least it should have. Despite shedding the weight, he was at, or near, the bottom of every single drill for defensive linemen.
Cleveland still took the chance but Ika spent much of the season as a healthy scratch. He finally started to get into games when Maurice Hurst was lost for the year but he struggled to make an impact with no stats through his first three appearances. With starters resting in Week 18, he was given more opportunities but failed to impress.
Not only is Ika struggling with athleticism but he can’t win with pure strength at this level the way he did in college. A perfect example of this was seen on a second-quarter scramble from Jake Browning. With pressure coming up the middle, Browning escaped to his right and while every other defensive lineman was closing on the quarterback, Ika was five yards past the line of scrimmage. He did try and get after Browning but never stood a chance and dove several yards shy trying to make a play.
He was also flagged for neutral zone infraction more than once, including when Corey Bojorquez and James Proche had just pinned the offense at the one-yard line. Cincinnati went 99 yards on that drive but were aided by Ika giving them enough room to operate with his jump.
Perhaps Ika will develop over the offseason and become the force in the middle the Browns envisioned. But right now, he’s not ready to play and shouldn’t see the field in the playoffs — if at all possible.