3 Browns’ players that must perform against Commanders

Cleveland Browns are back at it tonight in their second preseason game. In what should be the most exciting preseason game, Cleveland is expected to play most of their starters. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said if the player is healthy, they’ll be suited up and ready to go. Now that we’ve gotten a couple of […]

Brandon Little Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer
Add as preferred source on Google

Cleveland Browns are back at it tonight in their second preseason game. In what should be the most exciting preseason game, Cleveland is expected to play most of their starters.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said if the player is healthy, they’ll be suited up and ready to go.

Now that we’ve gotten a couple of weeks of training camp in, we’ve got a pretty good look at the 2023 Browns’ team.

There are three guys specifically that I will be watching against the Commanders.

WR Anthony Schwartz

Last week against the New York Jets, exactly what Schwartz didn’t need to happen, happened. His first touch resulted in a fumble and the Jets’ ball. The third-year wide receiver went on to catch one ball following that fumble for seven yards.

Schwartz is battling for a roster spot and he looks to be on the outside looking in. If WR Marquise Goodwin can continue to play (blood clots), Schwartz is as good as gone. The Auburn product has shown nothing more than straight-line speed and has been close to a non-factor through his first two seasons. For his sake, Schwartz needs a strong training camp to make this team.

K Cade York

Another player that didn’t have the best results against the Jets. York was 24-of-32 kicking the ball as a rookie and missed his first kick of the preseason on the Browns’ opening drive.

Cleveland was sort of spoiled with Phil Dawson for many years and they haven’t had a kicker like him since. York has a big leg but the consistency with his accuracy has been off. This preseason it’ll be York handling all of the kicks, as he’s the only kicker on the 90-man roster. With every kick that York takes, all eyes will be on him.

The Browns aren’t going to cut their fourth-round draft pick if he struggles a bit this early. But he needs to improve or he’s going to face a ton of criticism often.

DT Tommy Togiai

With the signing of Shelby Harris, it pushed everyone on the defensive tackle depth chart back a spot outside of Dalvin Tomlinson. It makes it a tougher job for guys on the back end to make the roster.

Togiai looked serviceable against the Jets but he remains on the outside looking in to make this roster. At the most, the Browns keep five defensive tackles. They have Tomlinson, Harris, Siaki Ika, and Jordan Elliott as locks to make the team. Togiai is included in a group with Maurice Hurst and Trysten Hill battling for that last spot.

Through two seasons, Togiai hasn’t shown a whole lot of anything when out on the field. He has one career sack and 29 tackles in 18 games played. In his pro tenure, Togiai is one of the worst-graded defensive tackles in the NFL.

Featured image via Jeff Lange-USA TODAY-Sports.