The Cleveland Browns rolled into their first preseason game and promptly gave up over 30 points to the Chicago Bears, a worrying sign for a defense already battling serious depth concerns. That’s right, more than 30 points in the first full week of preseason action, and they were the *only* team in the entire league to do it. You’ve gotta wonder what’s going on back there.
Depth Chart Looking Like a Mystery Novel
It’s not just the score that’s got people talking, it’s the *why*. We’ve been hearing about injuries piling up in the secondary throughout camp, and when the lights came on for the game, the depth after the first couple of units was, well, pretty bad. A lot of the defensive backs on the field were just recently signed, and honestly, even for a seasoned camp observer, half the names were completely unrecognizable. That’s a huge red flag when you’re trying to build a cohesive unit. The defensive starters barely even saw the field, playing just three snaps for a quick three-and-out before calling it a day. Meanwhile, the offensive starters got ten snaps in two series. That kind of limited action for the top guys means you’re really relying on your depth, and right now, the Browns just don’t seem to have it.
Spotlight on the Front Seven: Good and Bad
When you dig into the defensive line, things get a little murky. With Maleik Collins, Mike Hall, and Sam Kamara all sidelined with injuries, it’s tough to get a real read on the defensive tackle depth. Adin Huntington was one of the few who managed to get a tackle in his 31 snaps, showing a glimpse of something. Guys like Khordae Sydnor (one sack, one TFL), Julian Okwara (one sack, one TFL), and Coziah Izzard (one TFL) did make some plays, showing individual flashes. But the defensive end depth is clearly more questionable, so much so that Cleveland has reportedly been trying to add a veteran to the mix.
On the linebacker front, however, there was a definite standout. Winston Reid, fighting for a roster spot, absolutely balled out. He snagged five combined tackles, batted down three passes, and earned an 89.7 PFF grade, making him Cleveland’s second-highest graded defender. That’s a huge performance when you’re trying to impress. Quincy Williams also made a nice tackle in his single series, but Reid’s effort was the one that really turned heads.
This isn’t a good look for a team hoping to make noise in the regular season. With more preseason games on the horizon, the Browns need to shore up these depth issues FAST, especially in the secondary and at defensive end, if they want any shot at a respectable regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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