Cleveland Browns: 4 names on bubble in preseason opener vs Jaguars

3. Cleveland Browns DT Malik McDowell

You may have recently read that McDowell was one of the Browns who needed a really good game against the Jaguars on Saturday night, but it doesn’t look like his oblique injury will afford him the chance to play.

McDowell was probably a long shot to make the roster and needed things to go perfectly throughout camp to have a shot at the final 53. The injury, is undoubtedly a setback.

That said, there’s still two more preseason games left to go, in addition to a scrimmage against the Giants  next week.

If one thing is true, it’s that McDowell looked the part when he was on the field, standing 6-foot-6,  290-pound frame.

Perhaps Cleveland sees his potential, which is why they signed him in the first place. Considering his past history, McDowell didn’t really seem like a “program guy” the front office was looking for. That said, they signed him anyway.

Never say never. Maybe Cleveland makes him one of the four players they protect on their practice squad. It’s probably unlikely, but seeing how McDowell has never appeared in even a preseason game since being drafted in 2017, it’s imperative he get on the field at some point.