Cleveland Browns

Teven Jenkins

G

With Jenkins out for the Week 1 opener, third-round rookie Austin Barber is expected to make the start at left guard for Cleveland. Jenkins appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, making four starts.

Taylen Green

QB

If Green is written into the Browns' offensive game plan for Week 1, it would likely suggest he is second in line at quarterback behind veteran Deshaun Watson. If 2025 fifth-rounder Shedeur Sanders ends up with that role instead, Green's path to playing time gets harder to envision. If and when Green does get on the field, his size and speed (6-foot-6, 230 pounds, 4.36 40-yard dash) would certainly compel a defense to pay close attention.

Maliek Collins

DT

KC Concepcion

WR

Concepcion also figures to be one of the team's top offensive weapons, locked in for a top-three role alongside presumed starters Jerry Jeudy and Denzel Boston. The Browns also have TE Harold Fannin and RBs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson in the mix for short-area targets, but Monken seems intent on getting the ball into Concepcion's hands, one way or another.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

LB

out

Dillon Gabriel

QB

ir

Kendrick Green

G

ir

Isaiah Bond

WR

Bond was concussed in Cleveland's second preseason game and was nearing 100 percent at the end of August. He's expected to fill the WR4 role for the Browns behind KC Concepcion, Denzel Boston and veteran Jerry Jeudy. As a rookie last season, Bond caught just 18 of 44 targets for 338 yards and zero touchdowns as a deep threat.

Denzel Boston

WR

The 39th overall pick in the 2026 Draft, Boston combined for one catch (on two targets) for 15 yards on 37 offensive snaps between his two appearances during the preseason. The output was nothing to write home about, but he appears set to be one of starting QB Deshaun Watson's key pass catchers to begin the campaign.

Jerry Jeudy

WR

It comes as no surprise after the Browns cut Cedric Tillman at the end of training camp. Jeudy is listed as a starter alongside rookie wideouts KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston. Jeudy displayed no chemistry with Shedeur Sanders last season, as the veteran wideout finished 2025 with just 50 catches for 602 yards and two touchdowns on 106 targets. His 47.2 percent catch rate was fifth worst out of 197 qualified pass catchers, and of the 38 players in the NFL to see at least 100 targets, Jeudy's 602 yards were just two more than Jake Ferguson at the bottom of the list. Concepcion is expected to become the go-to target in Cleveland, with Boston operating as the big-bodied X receiver. Jeudy will face far more competition for targets.

Dylan Sampson

RB

Cleveland held both of their top two backs -- Quinshon Judkins and Sampson -- out for the third game of the preseason to open up more playing time for other running backs to stake claims to roster spots. Judkins is locked in as the Browns' lead runner heading into their Week 1 matchup with the Jaguars, but Sampson should have a consistent role as a weapon on passing downs. Sampson proved to be adept as a pass catcher during his 2025 rookie campaign, drawing 40 targets on just 249 snaps while producing a 33-271-2 receiving line. He was much less productive as a runner, however, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry on 65 totes.

Sam Williams

LB

Williams re-signed with the Cowboys in early March but was waived Sunday. He compiled 9.5 regular-season sacks over his first two years in the league but missed all of 2024 due to a knee injury and recorded just 1.0 sacks despite logging a career-high 469 defensive snaps last year. Williams will look to get back on track in what is likely to be a rotational role with the Browns this season.

Kalia Davis

DT

Davis sustained the injury during a training camp practice in late July, forcing him to miss all three of the Browns' preseason games. By opening the regular season on IR, the fifth-year defensive tackle will be required to miss at least four games, so Week 5 against the Jets on Sunday, Oct. 11 is the earliest the Davis can see the field. Adin Huntington and Mike Hall will serve as the Browns' rotational options at defensive tackle behind starters Mason Graham and Maliek Collins for as long as Davis is sidelined.

Edefuan Ulofoshio

LB

Ulofoshio suffered a biceps injury in Cleveland's final preseason contest Thursday and was waived/injured Sunday. He went unclaimed on waivers and consequently reverted to injured reserve. As a result, Ulofoshio won't be able to play during the 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Browns.

Elijah Chatman

DT

Chatman hurt his quad in Cleveland's preseason finale and was subsequently waived/injured Sunday. He wasn't claimed on waivers, so he reverted to IR. That means Chatman will miss the entire 2026 season unless he reaches an injury settlement with the Browns.

Joe Royer

TE

Royer has been designated to return to the team but will be required to miss at least the first four weeks of the regular season. The rookie fifth-rounder missed the entirety of the preseason due to a personal issue. It remains unclear when the tight end will be ready to return to football.

Carson Schwesinger

LB

Schwesinger had not practiced with the team yet in August. The Defensive Rookie of the Year's return is a huge boon for the Browns' defense as the team heads into the Week 1 contest with the Jaguars. Schwesinger is the defensive shot caller for Cleveland, so him reclaiming his first-team reps from Nathaniel Watson should kick the Browns' defense into another gear.

Quinshon Judkins

RB

Judkins also missed the team's second preseason game due to an undisclosed injury, but he returned to practice this past Monday and seems to be past the issue. He ended up logging action in only the first of the Browns' exhibition contests, when he carried four times for nine yards. Judkins is the clear No. 1 RB for Cleveland and could be headed for a heavy workload on a team that may again deploy a shaky passing game.

Harold Fannin Jr.

TE

Fannin and several other Browns starters -- including Deshaun Watson, Quinshon Judkins and rookie wide receivers KC Concepcion and Denzel Boston -- were idle for Cleveland's preseason finale Thursday. Despite shaky quarterback play in 2025, Fannin was able to put together a productive rookie campaign, as he logged 72 catches (on 107 targets) for 731 yards and six touchdowns while adding seven carries for 13 yards and a score across 16 regular-season games. David Njoku is no longer with the Browns, so Fannin is the unquestioned TE1 on the depth chart and could be a go-to target for Watson in the passing game.

Mekhi Blackmon

CB

The move became official following the Browns' 37-13 preseason win over the Patriots on Thursday. Blackmon was able to play in all 17 regular-season games for the Colts last year after missing the entire 2024 campaign (as a member of the Vikings) due to a torn ACL. His addition gives the Browns extra depth at outside cornerback behind Denzel Ward and Tyson Campbell.

Carsen Ryan

TE

Ryan managed to suit up two days after exiting Tuesday's practice early due to a foot injury. The rookie seventh-round pick is aiming to secure a spot on Cleveland's 53-man roster in a TE room led by Harold Fannin.

Andre Szmyt

PK

Szmyt is the only kicker on Cleveland's roster, and the Syracuse product rewarded the Browns' faith in him with a perfect performance Thursday. He served as the Browns' kicker for the entire 2025 regular season, connecting on 24 of 27 field-goal attempts. The Browns are expected to have one of the league's worst offenses again in 2026 after scoring the second-fewest points in the 2025 regular season, so Szmyt's opportunities are likely to remain limited, Thursday's busy exhibition outing notwithstanding.

Shedeur Sanders

QB

Sanders and Watson had been battling for the job since the start of the offseason program and alternated starts in the Browns' first two preseason tilts. Between losses to the Bears and Bills, Sanders completed 15 of 22 attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. While Watson didn't fare dramatically better than Sanders in the two exhibition games, his superior performance during camp practices in addition to his greater NFL experience and pricey contract were likely major factors in him emerging as the victor in the job battle. Watson is unlikely to head into Week 1 with a long leash, however, and Sanders should have a good chance at making starts in 2026 if the Browns limp out to a poor start to the season.

Deshaun Watson

QB

Watson won out in a job battle with Shedeur Sanders, after the quarterbacks alternated starts in the Browns' first two preseason contests. After an efficient showing in the preseason opener against the Bears (11-for-15 for 126 yards), Watson was unproductive over his four second-half drives in Saturday's 31-7 exhibition loss to the Bills, completing just five of 12 throws for 36 yards and an interception. The Browns were apparently encouraged enough from what they've seen from Watson over the course of training camp and the first two preseason tilts to move forward with him as their starter heading into the regular season, but he'll most likely be on a short leash. Since joining the Browns in 2022, Watson has posted a lowly 33.1 QBR while being limited to 19 total games due to injuries, including a torn right Achilles tendon and a subsequent re-rupture that kept him out for the entire 2025 season.

Alex Wright

DE

Wright picked up the injury during Thursday's joint practice with the Bills during a one-on-one drill with offensive tackle Spencer Brown. Follow-up tests revealed the extent of Wright's injury, which will sideline the 2022 third-rounder for the upcoming season. Isaiah McGuire is slated to start at defensive end opposite Jared Verse for the upcoming season, with the Browns adding depth to the position by signing Derek Barnett to a one-year contract.