3 Browns Players Fighting for Their Jobs in Eagles Game

The Browns are currenly gearing up for their third game of the preseason as they face the Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday. Joint practices this week have been testy between these two sides, setting the stage for what could be an intense contest.

Hopefully that fighting spirit transfers over to a few Browns players whose rosters spots appear to be in jeopardy. With that in mind, here three contributors who need a strong game against the Eagles.

Browns Players Fighting for Their Jobs vs. Eagles

1. Joshua Dobbs

Joshua Dobbs entered Cleveland's second exhibition as the clear backup choice after sitting out the Hall of Fame game, but I don't think that's the case anymore.

The journeyman was given the most opportunities out of all of the team's QBs against Washington, yet he struggled mightily in his first preseason action. Dobbs managed to complete just eight of his 16 pass attempts versus the Commanders, posting a dismal 37.8 QB rating.

Dobbs' poor performance also included an inexcusable interception where he simply overthrew an open reciever.

Despite gettig a team-high 16 pass attempts to show his stuff, Dobbs was actually outpaced in yards (77) by both backups behind him on the depth chart. Dorian Thompson-Robinson finished with 102 yards on 9-of-10 passing, while Kellen Mond notched 79 yards on a 7-for-12 showing.

Yard totals in a preseason game aren't the end of the world, but Dobbs is supposed to be the main backup. He should've impressed considering the wealth of playing time he got. Instead, it was the players behind him on the depth chart that garnered praise for leading touchdown drives (which the veteran did not).

DTR's emergence is especially concerning for Dobbs' job security. Cleveland has no loyalty to Dobbs simply because he was with the team previously; Kevin Stefanski and co. will pick the best man for the job. In live game situations, Dobbs hasn't gotten it done so far, while the rookie has.

The pressure on Dobbs isn't going away as DTR continues to look like a legitimate QB2 option. A great showing against a staunch Eagles defense is what Dobbs needs to pull ahead in this race again.

2. Cade York

Bringing up Cade York's name at this point invokes a sense of dread in Browns fans as his struggles continue.

After missing a 49-yarder in the Hall of Fame game, York let his team down once again versus Washington. The sophomore kicker went wide right for the second time in as many weeks, failing to connect from 46 yards out against the Commanders.

While he remains the Browns' kicker, that could change in the blink of an eye with so many proven vets still on the free agent market. Longtime starters like Mason Crosby or Robbie Gould would provide Cleveland with players who know what it's like to kick well with consistency. Both kickers' strong postseason experience, which includes a Super Bowl appearance for each, also fits exactly what the Browns are aiming for.

Cleveland being a hopeful contender means its can't afford to mess around at such an important position. There's way more examples of kickers costing teams in big moments, and York could be trending into that category if the Browns continue to accept the status quo.

At the very least, York could use some competition to prove his worth. He might not find himself alone on the depth chart by next week if he shanks another once against Philly.

3. John Kelly

Cleveland's running back depth is one of the most important areas this team needs to evaluate in the preseason. With top names recently being scooped up, I think the Browns will take an even closer at their current RB corps and determine if they should act before it's too late.

One player who could be on the chopping block to make room for someone else is John Kelly. While he has the advantage of familiarity with the system, he's coming off of a very disappointing second preseason game that saw him post just six yards on six attempts.

With Jerome Ford currenly nursing a hip injury, it's created an opportunity for the other backups like Kelly to make a case for RB2. However, it's fellow RB Demetric Felton who's taken advantage of this, and his ability to also return kicks boosts his chances of making the roster.

There's several intriguing names still on the market as well, with the likes of Darrel Henderson Jr. and J.D. McKissic being unsigned so far. If Cleveland wants to truly get the most out of its mostly unproven RB room, adding one of those players to the mix makes a ton of sense.

The deck seems stacked against Kelly at the moment. He'll need a noteworthy performance on Thursday to ensure he sticks around for the preseason finale.

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