It may be a preseason game that doesn’t count much for the teams, but there are plenty of implications in the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs preseason game.

It’s the last shot for many on the 90-man roster to prove that they deserve to stick around past next Tuesday.

There are players on the Browns’ roster right now who won’t ever suit up in an NFL game again, that’s simply the reality. Right now it looks like there are three players specifically that are right on the bubble.

So, for these three players, Saturday is a huge opportunity for these players. Training camp practices only show so much when you’re going up against each other. Live evaluations in a game setting are the best spot to prove yourself and Saturday is just that.

Let’s dig in on the three players who many Browns fans have become familiar with over the last month and are right on the bubble.

WR Austin Watkins Jr.

Across the NFL, Watkins may be the breakout offensive player this preseason. Granted he has done it against backups primarily, but Watkins has really given himself a chance to make the 53-man roster. It’s going to be a tough choice at the end of the day for the Browns to make. It may come down to whether they want to start the season with six or seven wideouts.

This preseason, the former USFL player has led the Browns in receiving each game. Against the Philadelphia Eagles last week, Watkins went out and totaled seven catches for 139 receiving yards and a touchdown. It was Watkins’ second score of the season.

Marquise Goodwin is likely heading to the injured reserve when the season starts, at least that’s what it looks like for now. Jakeem Grant Sr. appears to be making the roster as the return specialist and he will take up a wide receiver spot. There are five other locks in Amari Cooper, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Elijah Moore, Cedric Tillman, and David Bell.

To this point, Watkins has blown far past Anthony Schwartz in deserving a spot. Jaelon Darden has been injured for the majority of camp and Mike Harley Jr. is a better fit for the practice squad.

Watkins is making the roster if Cleveland keeps seven wideouts, which they might with the evolution of the offense and wanting to pass the ball more. We’ll see.

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S Ronnie Hickman Jr.

Hickman has won the fanbase over this month for two reasons; He played his college ball in Columbus and he’s shown up with three interceptions. The latter is an interesting development to watch for a player who was known as a box safety coming out of Ohio State.

With two interceptions against the Washington Commanders in the second preseason game and one against the Eagles last week, he easily needs the NFL in that category during the preseason. Cleveland traditionally keeps four safeties and they probably will again this year.

Last year, D’Anthony Bell made the team as an undrafted free agent. This year it may be Hickman taking his place. Another interception to make it four interceptions in four preseason games certainly wouldn’t hurt Hickman’s stock. A veteran like Juan Thornhill who plays the same position has said good things about Hickman.

Grant Delpit and Thornhill will start on the defense and Rodney McLeod will be out there a bunch. Saturday is one last chance for Hickman to show he belongs over Bell.

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LB Mohamoud Diabate

As we all know, the Browns haven’t necessarily valued linebackers the last few years. With that being said, it’s another position that could potentially see one more body than normal. If last year proved anything, it was that the linebacker room can be depleted. Anthony Walker Jr. and Sione Takitaki suffered season-ending injuries and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah was shut down after week 14.

Tony Fields II stepped in and played fine behind a bad defensive line. He’s made plays this preseason and certainly could be back with the Browns, though he’s no lock. Cleveland likes Jordan Kunaszyk as a special teams linebacker with the ability to step out there on the defense if needed. There are five linebackers surely that are making it unless the Browns do decide to keep their impressive UDFA linebacker Diabate to make it six.

Last week against the Eagles, Diabate had a forced fumble and a tackle for loss that resulted in a safety. In this training camp, he has shown his ability to fly around and make plays, which fits perfectly with what defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz does. The enticing thing about Diabate is that he is still very raw at the position and he’s already showing some things.

If the Browns keep just five linebackers, Diabate’s only shot is making it over Fields who hasn’t done anything to show he shouldn’t be back with the team. Right now, Diabate should be over Matthew Adams, a free-agent acquisition that has been hurt all camp.

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Tough choices are going to be made and these undrafted free agents that have sort of become fan favorites in the few “meaningless” games we’ve seen may be cut. It’s the harsh part of the end of training camp that comes around every year. Even if the Browns move on from all three of these players on the initial 53-man roster, don’t rule them out from appearing in orange and brown at some point. The practice squad can be a handy thing. 

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Featured image via Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.