Story by
Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks preseason finale: 3 storylines, 3 players to watch
- Story by
- Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks preseason finale: 3 storylines, 3 players to watch
SEATTLE — The preseason comes to an end for the Browns Saturday night — late Saturday night — way off in the Pacific Northwest. So what will be the major thing to keep people sleepless in Northeast Ohio while their football team plays in Seattle?
The quarterback , of course. Well, possibly the quarterback .
Advertisement
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski has already said that all of the starters who "can go" will play against the Seattle Seahawks . Everything about that is as open-ended as possible, from the exact players who will play to exactly how long they will play.
Stefanski has typically played his starters for the better part of the first quarter in the preseason the last few years, save for a handful of the biggest names: Myles Garrett , Joel Bitonio and, when healthy, Nick Chubb . That has also typically included his starting quarterback, whoever that may have been.
That's where the first of the three storylines for Saturday's preseason finale in Seattle goes.
3 storylines for Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks preseason finale
Will quarterback Deshaun Watson make his first game appearance or not?
Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) and quarterback Jameis Winston (5) looks to pass during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
It's the question that has seemingly been asked on a daily basis for at least two weeks, if not longer. Almost two weeks ago, Stefanski said "the plan" was for Deshaun Watson to start at quarterback against the Seahawks, which would be his first game appearance since last Nov. 12 when he sustained the season-ending shoulder injury.
Advertisement
However, Stefanski has also maintained an out based on "all the information." This week, that "information" has included the Browns' continued left tackle issues, as well as the "general arm soreness" that caused Watson to stop throwing during Wednesday's practice.
Watson did come back and fully participate in Thursday's practice before the Browns left for Seattle. Even when he didn't finish practice Wednesday, Stefanski was a firm "no" when asked if he was ruling the quarterback out against the Seahawks.
The decision is likely to not become "official" until 90 minutes before kickoff, so 8:30 p.m. for those in Northeast Ohio. All things being equal, there should be no surprise if it ends up being backup Jameis Winston going out when the Browns offense first takes the field.
Can Germain Ifedi provide some stability for the Cleveland Browns at left tackle?
Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Germain Ifedi has played in 102 career regular-season NFL games, including 83 starts, since the Seahawks made him a first-round draft pick out of Texas A&M in 2016. The problem, relatively speaking to the Browns' left tackle issue, is that Ifedi has four career regular-season snaps at that position,
Advertisement
Ifedi has worked on the right side of the offensive line essentially his entire career. Now, he's taken quite a few reps over the last few weeks on the left side, but he was not envisioned as a possibility on that side when he was initially signed.
The fact Jedrick Wills Jr. continues to recover from his December arthroscopic knee surgery has left the Browns in a major bind at his position. Add in injuries to, as well as general ineffectiveness by, James Hudson III (ankle) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee), and suddenly Ifedi becomes the Browns' Obi-Wan Kenobi, their "only hope."
Ifedi has played nearly as many snaps on the left side, 33, as he has on the right side, 36, over the first two preseason games. The guess is he's going to double those left tackle snaps against the team that drafted him.
Who will be the players who earn roster spots Saturday for Cleveland Browns?
Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon (28) is sandwiched between Cleveland Browns linebacker Devin Bush (30) and Cleveland Browns cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Saturday's not going to be the end-all, be-all for any player trying to make the Browns' initial 53-man roster. It is going to be the final opportunity for a number of players to make their case, though.
Advertisement
The positive spin to the number of injuries the Browns have dealt with over the course of training camp has been that it's allowed for some younger players to get a whole lot of reps. Those reps have provided those players with a lot of opportunity to impress the coaches and front office executives.
Who are those players? Many of them are, specifically, on the defensive side of the ball.
Rookie cornerback Myles Harden , second-year linebacker Mohamoud Diabate , former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round linebacker Devin Bush and second-year cornerback Kahlef Hailassie are just four players who have taken a lot of those reps. They've also done a good job of pressing the issue that they belong on the roster.
3 players to watch in Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks preseason finale
Tyler Huntley , quarterback
Huntley could be the odd man out in the Browns' four-man quarterback room depending on whether or not the team gets an offer their can't refuse for second-year pro Dorian Thompson-Robinson . Through two preseason games, one in which he played most of the first half and one in which he played the entire second half, he's completed 69% of his 29 pass attempts for 176 yards, but has thrown two interceptions and no touchdowns. Still, there's the pedigree from his time as Lamar Jackson 's backup with the Baltimore Ravens that could interest a team looking to add a quarterback before the roster cutdown deadline at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Saturday's game at least gives Huntley a chance to showcase himself one more time.
Advertisement
Zaire Mitchell-Paden , tight end
Cleveland Browns tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) runs to the sideline against Green Bay Packers safety Evan Williams (33) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game at Cleveland Browns Stadium, Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Giovanni Ricci's unfortunate knee injury in last week's preseason game has opened the door to a clear pathway for Mitchell-Paden to finally make his way onto the initial 53-man roster. The last two years, he's ended up on the practice squad, with a singular gameday elevation that ultimately turned into an inactive status. This preseason, though, Mitchell-Paden may end up as TE3, especially with Ricci — who seemed like he was destined for that spot because of his fullback abilities — no longer under contract. He has been the Browns' leading receiver through the first two preseason games with 79 yards on seven catches.
Devin Bush, linebacker
The former first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers has seen a lot of action the last month, both in games and practice, because of injuries to Jordan Hicks and Tony Fields II. Bush, to his credit, has played well for the most part with that opportunity. Now, in what has always been an chance for him to re-establish himself after a brutal knee injury his second year knocked him off track, he gets to go against Seattle, the team with which he spent last season.
Advertisement
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns-Seahawks preseason finale: Will Deshaun Watson make the start?
