The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Backups in focus for preseason opener
Media had no access to players or coaches Aug. 7, so a day earlier Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens was asked whether quarterback Baker Mayfield or wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will play in the preseason opener Aug. 8.
“I haven’t decided,” Kitchens said, giving the same answer when asked how long the starters will play. “I don’t
know yet. We’re just trying to get through tomorrow.
“A lot of things factor into those questions. I’m not trying to dismiss it. Some of it factors into who is available.”
Greg Joseph and rookie Austin Seibert are locked in a heated battle for the kicking job. Kitchens said he hasn’t decided whether to alternate the pair on a kick-by-kick or game-bygame basis.
The entire starting defensive line of Myles Garrett, Sheldon Richardson, Larry Ogunjobi and Olivier Vernon were held from practice Aug. 5 and 6 with various injuries. So it is almost certain they won’t play against the Redskins in the 7:30 p.m. kickoff at FirstEnergy Stadium.
“Ultimately in September, you want to get (all 22 starters) there healthy, but there is also a fine line between getting them there healthy and getting them there battle-hardened and battle-tested for what’s going to happen,” Kitchens said. “Because from this moment on, they are never going to feel perfect until February. We have to get used to playing like that.”
The game against the Redskins is important to players fighting for jobs. Rookie linebackers Mack Wilson and Sione Takitaki will get the chance to show what they can do against players from another team. So will rookie safety Sheldrick Redwine and others.
Eric Kush, a seven-year veteran, is expected to start at right guard against the Redskins. Kush might remain in the game if the other starting offensive linemen are rested just so he can get more work. The Browns did that last year with rookie Austin Corbett, although the playing time Browns guard Eric Kush (72), shown blocking Trevon Coley on Aug. 5, might get extended playing time in the preseason opener.
did not seem to help him.
“We like Kush,” Kitchens said. “That’s why he’s here. He needs to string together days. I don’t mind not being the best at anything. I just want to know what we’re getting when you go out on the field.
“I just want to see these guys competing against other people. You have to have a measuring stick at some point with the down the line guys up against their guys of the same nature. I want to see some guys that may have plenty of playing time competing
against their good guys.”
Kitchens plans to keep three quarterbacks. That makes the game against the Redskins huge for Garrett Gilbert.
Gilbert, 28, has bounced around football like a ping pong ball. He was a sixthround draft pick of Rams in 2014. He has spent time with the Patriots, Lions, Raiders and Panthers in the NFL. In all that time he appeared in one game. That came last year, when he completed two of three passes.
Gilbert is known for two things. He attended Lake
Travis High School four years before Baker Mayfield played at the same school. Also, he was the leading passer in the Alliance of American Football with 2,152 passing yards when the league abruptly folded this past spring. That performance opened the door to being signed by the Browns.
Gilbert has thrown the ball accurately and crisply in training camp. Even by the way he carries himself, it is evident he this is not his first training camp experience.
“Obviously, preseason football is very important for guys like me,” Gilbert said. “It’s just another day, another chance to go out and improve and play the game. Thursday night will be a lot of fun getting out there and seeing some live bullets.
“My day-to-day focus is the same. It’s just improving every single day, getting more and more comfortable within this offense and getting ready to play football.”
Gilbert said he had opportunities to sign with other teams after the AAF folded, but chose to sign with the Browns in part to be reunited with Mayfield.