The Browns seem to have it all. But do they have an elite quarterback? Can the arrivals of Ken Dorsey and Jerry Jeudy help Deshaun Watson find — and sustain — confidence? It’s not as simple as saying that consistent play from Watson and relatively good health across the roster will make this team a true AFC contender, but that’s a good place to start.
So, welcome (or welcome), Browns fans — and make sure your seat belt is on. I’ll do my best to broadcast all the developments, insights and conversations from the locker room and facility, and I’ll try every week to take you places you don’t normally get to go. We don’t expect “normal” to suddenly become part of the weekly lexicon, but we don’t really know what to expect.
It’s supposed to be fun on the road, and the Browns certainly spent with the goal of making this a season like no other. Where does it go? Who are the surprise players? Can this ride be longer than the others? Jump — and stay — with The Athletics as we find out.
When you want to go past the Browns, The Athletics will still have you covered. Get The Pulse delivered to your inbox for a quick, fun read on the biggest stories in the NFL and all of sports. Check the app daily — available on iOS and Google — to get personalized news about the teams that matter most to you. And deep into the NFL with Scoop City as insider Dianna Russini and our NFL reporters bring you the inside scoop.
Week 1: vs. Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 pm ET (Fox)
Here are some stories to get you ready for the season:
Brown must-reads:
What I’m seeing: O-line shakeups and other observations
Will Jack Conklin be Cleveland’s starting LT until Jedrick Wills returns? And what will the running back room look like until Nick Chubb returns?
Browns need the best version of Deshaun Watson if they want to reach their ceiling
Cleveland has accumulated and retained enough talent to be considered potentially elite this season. But it all starts with their highly paid QB.
Myles Garrett expected to take a torch from Aaron Donald as the NFL’s top defender
“The combination of size, athleticism, willpower, all those things when you’re in Madden, and you create a player, he’s got them all.”
Browns keep 4 QBs on 53-man roster as cut day brings some mild surprises
Perhaps most surprising was Cleveland keeping all four quarterbacks it had on the roster since March.
Browns’ Chubb will miss at least the first 4 games
In 2023, Jerome Ford filled some of Chubb’s void in the Browns’ offense, totaling 813 yards on 204 carries as the replacement starter.
Cleveland Browns Stadium guide
(Chris Unger, Ryan Kang, Kevin C. Cox, Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
NFL rankings and insights:
Week 1 Power Rankings
It’s time for a vibration check for every team entering the season.
Quarterback Tiers 2024: Only 2 join Mahomes in Tier 1
Aaron Rodgers missed Tier 1 for the first time in the 11th annual survey of 50 NFL coaches and executives. His successor in Green Bay increased.
Like NFL GMs, coaches really feel about the new kickoff rule
More comebacks? Fewer injuries? The NFL thinks so, but, even after seeing it in the preseason, some coaches and GMs still aren’t sold.
NFL agents dish on best (and worst) franchise, Mahomes’ worth and Dak’s upcoming deal
In our sixth annual agent survey, reps offered thoughts on everything from QB contracts to top talent evaluators to ways to improve the NFL.
Intel on all 32 NFL teams, Russ skepticism, Davante Adams trade talk and more
Dozens of NFL executives and coaches are thinking about how the 2024 season will unfold for each team.
Ten bold predictions: Packers win NFC North, but Caleb Williams for MVP?
Plus: Kyler Murray explodes, the 49ers suffer a Super Bowl hangover and Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs make history (again).
Hope-O-Meter results: fan rating optimism for all 32 teams
Optimism in the NFL tends to be closely tied to a team’s starting quarterback. So which fanbases are most optimistic in 2024?
Win total projections | Week 1 schedule
(Deshaun Watson photo: Jeff Lange / USA Today)
