Browns' Projected Winners of Key Position Battles
The Cleveland Browns have one of the more frustrating preseason situations on their hands at the moment.
Cleveland has a long list of key players who have not practiced much in preseason because of injuries.
Nick Chubb, Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin are the most notable names missing from on-field activities right now.
The Browns have been left to evaluate their backups as well as figure out the winners of some key positional battles.
Cleveland appeared to receive some answers to its roster questions in the first preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, but there are still two more preseason games left to decide who will fill which roles.
No. 3 Wide Receiver
1 of 3
Jamari Thrash led the Browns in receiving yards in the preseason opener against the Packers.
The rookie out of Louisville caught three balls for 43 yards to make a strong in-game impression on the coaching staff.
The Browns wide receiver situation behind Amari Cooper and Jerry Jeudy is wide open for someone to take advantage of.
Elijah Moore has not lived up to expectations in his NFL career with the Browns and New York Jets and Thrash may be on a level playing field with Cedric Tillman and David Bell.
It's easy to heap praise on Thrash because he played well in the first week of preseason, but the other wide receivers all have experience in the Browns' offensive system.
Thrash may have the most potential of the group, but he may lose out, at least in Week 1, to Moore. A takeover of the No. 3 wide receiver spot may not occur until midseason.
Projected Winner: Elijah Moore
Linebacker
2 of 3
Devin Bush stood out in the time he had on the field against the Packers.
Bush was signed in the offseason to compete for the third starting linebacker spot alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah and Jordan Hicks.
Bush at least looked like a starting-caliber player in his reps against Green Bay's first-team offense.
Bush tied for the third-highest tackle total on the Browns roster with six and he had the most defensive interactions of any potential starter.
A strong preseason is exactly what the Browns need out of Bush to provide depth at linebacker.
He currently holds the edge over any of the reserves at the position, and as long as he keeps up his effort from preseason, he should lock down the starting job.
Projected Winner: Devin Bush
No. 3 Running Back
3 of 3
The backup running back role is important to Cleveland's success in 2024 because there's no guarantee that Nick Chubb will return to his old form.
Chubb is rehabbing the serious leg injury he suffered last season and is expected back soon, but for now, the Browns have to evaluate who may be his first and second backup.
Pierre Strong Jr. earned a chance to impress solely by being healthy for the preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.
However, Strong only ran for 15 yards on six carries in a game where the running game took a back seat to the aerial attack.
D'Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines are also injured at the moment, so John Kelly Jr. received some preseason snaps as well.
When everyone is healthy, Strong may be fighting for a roster spot behind Jerome Ford, Foreman and Hines, but right now, the Browns can only rely on the available bodies in training camp.
Projected Winner: Pierre Strong Jr.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
