The dust has settled following the Cleveland Browns Week 1 tie and the focus has shifted to week 2 vs. the New Orleans Saints – we look at five players to watch.
Week 1 of the NFL regular season offered more questions than answers for the Cleveland Browns offense. The defense, however, although struggling to contain Pittsburgh’s No. 2 running back, James Conner, offered signs of dominance with a plus-five turnover ratio.
Now the Browns will head on the road for their next matchup, this time looking to stay away from the tie column. They’ll travel to the bayou to take on the New Orleans Saints, who are reeling from a shocking loss last week against Tampa Bay.
Off Cleveland’s strong defensive showing, here are the five players to watch for the Browns in Week 2.
Myles Garrett, DE
A Week 1 yield of five tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles from Myles Garrett offered fans more excitement that they have seen in quite some time. While it may be unrealistic to expect him to continue on pace to total 32 sacks this season, all eyes will be fixated on Garrett to see just how phenomenal he will continue to be.
Denzel Ward, CB
Taken fourth overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, many felt the Browns would have been better served taking edge rusher Bradley Chubb to accompany Garrett in attacking opposing quarterbacks. Ward quickly quieted doubters, however, with a pair of interceptions and solid coverage in his NFL debut. His quick play and hard-hitting makes him a must-watch player in Week 2.
Tyrod Taylor, QB
Taylor spearheaded a lackluster offensive performance in Week 1 against the Steelers. While the rain came down and the offensive line’s struggles certainly did not benefit Taylor, he did not help himself by struggling to take shots downfield and missing his target several times when he did. With first-overall pick Baker Mayfield peering over his shoulder, Taylor must soon prove he is deserving of the starting spot.
David Njoku, TE
Njoku is one of the more intriguing players on the 2018 Browns roster. His athleticism is simply remarkable, but his struggles with dropped passes have been an ongoing concern. Week 2 brings a chance for redemption following a pair of drops in the season opener and fans will certainly be watching to see if he answers the call.
Desmond Harrison, LT
Joe Thomas left shoes not easily filled at the left tackle spot with his retirement, but undrafted rookie free agent Desmond Harrison, who enters his second week at left tackle, has earned the right to try. He did not help himself with an array of Week 1 penalties, but given the magnitude of the position and the first-NFL-game-jitters, they were certainly understandable. The question now is how he progresses at the position as he continues to build chemistry with the other big men up front.
While several other players certainly will draw attention, these five offer the biggest intrigue leading into week 2. Will fans be gifted with more defensive highlights? Will the offensive woes continue? Or will the Cleveland Browns put an all-around solid performance together and finally come out on top?