Browns vs. Saints: 8 players who need a good preseason game
Eight players to watch as the Cleveland Browns host the New Orleans Saints at First Energy Stadium during the preseason opener at 8 p.m. tonight.
1. Brock Osweiler, QB, Browns: Sure, it’s unfair to grade Brock Osweiler because he’s just started taking first-team reps this wekk and he’ll probably get limited snaps as the first team usually does in the preseason opener, but this is Cleveland he plays quarterback. It’s the nature of the position. A good drive that results in points will keep Clevelanders mellow until the next game.
2. Saints LT: New Orleans regularly scheduled starter, Terron Armstead is out for a good chunk of time. That’s forced rookie Ryan Ramczyk into first-team reps. Ramczyk’s missed the first-two practices for undisclosed reasons.
Khalif Barnes has also been working at left tackle, but this was a guy who scribes were writing about just a week ago about his hope to make it through the final cut.
Myles Garrett could have a field day in his first live-game, NFL action.
3. Cody Parkey, K, Browns: Cody Parkey, the incumbent starter gets the nod in preseason Week 1, ahead of rookie Zane Gonzalez. If Parkey wants to keep the job, he can’t give the coaches a reason to take it away from him.
4. Garrett Grayson, QB, Saints: Get ready for a lot Garrett Grayson, Cleveland fans. With Drew Brees unlikely to play in what amounts to a meaningless exhibition, the Saints are going to want to see what they have in Grayson, a third-round pick in 2015 who played at Colorado State.
Grayson isn’t the Saints primary backup, that gig belongs to Chase Daniel, but the third-year player needs to get good tape. He struggled mightily as Saints’ third QB as a rookie, and he spent the 2016 season on the practice squad.
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Can he play at all. It’s time to find out, and he’s certainly going to get the opportunity to take a ton of snaps.
5. Shon Coleman, RT, Browns: Shon Coleman, a 2016 third-round pick, has had a hold on the starting right tackle job all camp. He can’t let go now. With that said, his competition, Cam Eriving is still fighting for playing time. Erving will also be one to watch later in the game as he works to push the first-round bust talk behind him.
6. Tank Carder, MLB, Browns: Tank Carder is in a competition with second-year player Joe Schobert for the MLB job.
7. Damian Swann, CB, Saints: Damian Swann, the Saints’ 2015 fifth-round draft pick, is on the bubble. New Orleans spent a high pick on Marshon Lattimore, who probably won’t play tonight (tweaked knee). New Orleans’ corners Ken Crawley and De’Vonte Harris are second-year players and have played well in camp.
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8. Jabrill Peppers, S, Browns: Free safety, strong safety, wherever he lines up, Peppers needs to start passing some big tests, and his first exam comes tonight. The Browns have been very cautious as to not give their rookies anything in terms of playing time. Peppers needs to earn it, and it starts tonight.