CLEVELAND — No starters … for either team. No Shedeur Sanders.
While that certainly takes much of the luster off the Browns’ preseason finale vs. the Patriots tonight at Huntington Bank Field, there are reasons to watch.
The NFL deadline to trim the roster to the regular-season limit of 53 is Sunday night at 6. The final spots will be determined tonight.
Here are five to watch.
No. 3 QB
General manager Andrew Berry isn’t opposed to keeping four quarterbacks on the 53, but it seems like a luxury he doesn’t have given depth concerns at other positions.
That means Dillon Gabriel and rookie Taylen Green are fighting for the spot behind starter Deshaun Watson and Sanders. Gabriel will start vs. the Patriots, with Green taking over.
Taylen Green steps into spotlight vs. Patriots after limited reps, with lot to prove
Gabriel was a third-round pick in 2025 and started six games as a rookie. He leveled off after a strong start to training camp this year but has received a good amount of second-team repetitions. He would seem to be the favorite to stick around.
Green was a sixth-round pick in April and hasn’t gotten any preseason reps and only a few team reps over the last three weeks of practice. He’s got special athletic gifts and coach Todd Monken raves about his intelligence, so a strong showing against the Patriots could be enough to secure him a spot.
If one of them gets cut, the hope would be he clears waivers and could be signed to the practice squad.
3-FOR-1
The punter job remains undecided.
Corey Bojorquez is the incumbent but struggled last season. Undrafted rookie Wes Pahl got the bulk of the reps Saturday vs. the Bills. Australian Nik Constantinou is a long shot.
All three continue to get reps in practice, including as the holder for place-kicks.
If Pahl has a big night vs. the Patriots, Berry could decide to go young.
MEN UPFRONT
The starting offensive line appears set: left tackle Spencer Fano, left guard Zion Johnson, center Elgton Jenkins, right guard Teven Jenkins and right tackle Tytus Howard.
Rookie third-round pick Austin Barber is a lock for a backup spot. He was drafted as a tackle but has fared well after moving to guard two weeks ago. Dawand Jones is likely to make the team as the swing tackle.
That leaves two or three spots.
Luke Wypler seems to have the edge at center over rookie Parker Brailsford, who missed weeks of camp with an injured right hand and could open the season on injured reserve. KT Leveston has moved from tackle to guard back to tackle and isn’t guaranteed a spot. Zak Zinter is a former third-round pick but hasn’t come close to cracking the starting lineup and seems vulnerable.
Kingsley Eguakun on the interior and tackle Tyre Phillips are also in the mix.
DOWN ON THE CORNER
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon was claimed off waivers Thursday from the Colts. He won’t play vs. the Patriots but will practice Saturday and likely make the team Sunday. He’s started 14 of 32 games in three seasons.
That demonstrates the state of the position after starters Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell and nickelback Myles Harden.
Damarri Mathis was placed on IR, D’Angelo Ross and Myles Bryant missed much of camp, Tre Avery has struggled and undrafted rookie Michael Coats Jr. was carted off the field Tuesday after his ankle turned violently.
If the Browns keep six, that leaves two open spots. Ross, Bryant — if he has enough time to get healthy — and undrafted rookie Nate Evans are the leading candidates, along with Coats, if he’s expected to be back soon. A big game from Evans vs. the Patriots could seal a spot.
Like the O-line, this position could see changes after the initial cuts.
WIDE AND DEEP?
Berry could choose to save a roster spot for somewhere else by keeping five receivers instead of six.
Those five are no-brainers: KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond and Tylan Wallace.
The situation gets jumbled after that. Malachi Corley, Gage Larvadain, Luke Floriea and undrafted rookie Kole Wilson are the options if Berry goes with six. Cedric Tillman was waived Thursday.
Cedric Tillman, a former 3rd-round pick, cut by Browns
