Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles’ preseason game this week won’t feature any starters, though there will be some players to keep an eye on.

Both teams are going to rest their starters after a pair of high-intensity joint practices where they got their work in.

That means the opportunity is there more than ever for players lower on the depth chart to step up.

Against the Eagles, there are three players that are very much worth watching for the Browns in particular. Of course, there are others, but these are three I’m keying in on.

QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson

In the third preseason game, Cleveland is going to roll out their rookie quarterback to start the game. Even though the Browns, nor the Eagles are playing their starters, this is a good chance for Thompson-Robinson to get in some work against higher competition.

In the previous two games against the New York Jets and Washington Commanders, DTR entered each of those games as the second and third quarterback. Essentially, DTR was working against third-string players and practice squad candidates. Nonetheless, the rookie still excelled.

In this game, Thompson-Robinson will get some time against second-string players on a legit Super Bowl-contending team. Through two games, DTR has been the best rookie quarterback through the preseason. He can boost the hype he’s built already with a third showing.

DT Maurice Hurst

With the Browns resting their starters, Hurst should be in line to get the start against the Commanders. For a player that’s struggled with injuries mightily in his career, that’s a big moment.

Hurst has stayed healthy through Browns’ training camp and that was the single most important task he faced to make the team. He is still no lock to make it, but he’s certainly on track.

Dalvin Tomlinson, Jordan Elliott, and Shelby Harris are your three top guys at the position — but Hurst appears to be that fourth guy up to this point. Against the Commanders, Hurst showed up with a half sack and got through the interior line more than once.

S Ronnie Hickman Jr.

Coming into training camp, many thought that Hickman could be a potential undrafted free agent to make the team. He has only made that thought a stronger possibility.

Last preseason game against the Commanders, Hickman had two interceptions and both were impressive. Coming out of Ohio State, Hickman was kind of boxed in as only being a safety you want playing closer to the line of scrimmage.

Hickman’s latest play is showing he can do more than a box safety and that makes him all more appealing to making the team. I expect Hickman will start against the Eagles and he should get plenty of time out there once again. 

Browns RT Jack Conklin to miss time following injury in joint practice with Eagles

These kind of things have happened to Jack Conklin often.

Featured image via Ken Blaze USA TODAY-Sports.