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5 Cleveland Browns who need a great game in NFL preseason Week 2

By Nick Dudukovich

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 09: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after missing the catch in the two point conversion in the first half against the New York Giants during their preseason game on August 9,2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 09: Antonio Callaway #11 of the Cleveland Browns reacts after missing the catch in the two point conversion in the first half against the New York Giants during their preseason game on August 9,2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Mychal Kendricks #95 of the Philadelphia Eagles hits Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a passduring Super Bowl Lll at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – FEBRUARY 04: Mychal Kendricks #95 of the Philadelphia Eagles hits Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a passduring Super Bowl Lll at U.S. Bank Stadium on February 4, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Eagles defeated the Patriots 41-33. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Mychal Kendricks, SAM

Mychal Kendricks needs a good game to thrust himself into a starter’s role once and for all.

Kendricks wowed us all when he sacked Eli Manning early in the Giants’ game.

But with the Browns returning three starting linebackers, Kendricks isn’t listed as a starter as the team’s unofficial depth chart heading into the Bills’ contest.

He’s currently listed behind Jamie Collins as the SAM backer.

What a difference a year makes. Collins entered camp last season carrying his brand new contract. He played well until an MCL injury ended his season prematurely.

He’s making a ton of money when in theory, Kendricks could start at the same position and put up the same–if not better–numbers.

Kendricks gets behind the line of scrimmage.

Remember, Collins was a Sashi Brown addition and again, he’s coming off season ending knee surgery.

I don’t think he’s tradable because of his contract, so he’d be the most likely candidate to be a rotational player with Christian Kirksey at the WILL spot and Pro Bowler Joe Schobert in the middle.

For what it’s worth, the Browns used four linebackers one in every eight snaps (about 16 percent of the time) last season according to ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi, who was citing something linebackers coach Blake Williams said, via TheLandonDemand.com (subscription).

Next. 4 Browns whose stock dropped after preseason Week 1. dark

Kendricks is better than Collins right now and he needs another good game to make the drum beat louder.

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