3 Big Things Browns Fans Should Watch for in Second Preseason Game vs. Bills

The Cleveland Browns went up against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday in a joint practice and will see them again Saturday afternoon in Week 2 of the preseason.

The Browns' preseason opener was a bit of a dud and fans are hoping to see improvement across the board. Several key things stand out as the most important aspects to watch for Saturday in Cleveland.

1. The play of Shedeur Sanders

It's best to start with the most obvious of all. Fans will be locked in analyzing the play of Shedeur Sanders as he gets the start. The only caveat is that he will not be playing with many starters around him.

The same will also be true for Deshaun Watson when he comes in during the second half. That makes the overall evaluation more difficult, however, general trends will still emerge.

Shedeur is at a disadvantage playing with backups and will be expected to raise the talents and production of those around him. If he can't, the job is likely Watson's. But if he can thrive and throw several touchdowns, the competition gets that much more interesting.

2. The depth on defense

The Browns gave up 34 points in last week's preseason opener against the Chicago Bears. That was mostly from the second and third-team defense, but is nothing to scoff at.

The defense was already thin to start, and the fact Alex Wright was carted off during Thursday's joint practice only raises the alarm bells surrounding the unit's overall depth.

#Browns DE Alex Wright injured his ankle in practice today. Trainers looked him over for about 5 mins before he was carted off the field.

🎥: @Matt_Bove pic.twitter.com/XrTIDabOK3
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) August 20, 2026

The Browns defense has its stars in Denzel Ward, Grant Delpit, Jared Verse, and Carson Schwesinger. But what about the players behind them? Another bad performance may mean Andrew Berry needs to make cuts and revamp several spots on defense before the season even begins.

3. Todd Monken's playcalling

The Browns are in the midst of a quarterback competition and head coach Todd Monken began last week's game with three consecutive run plays.

Shedeur Sanders was jeered in Thursday's joint practice for his reliance on check-down throws. Fans will want to see if Monken opens things up Saturday, allowing Sanders to show off his skills and not just that he can complete short passes.

Coaches usually don't like to show off much of the playbook in preseason action. But these are unique circumstances and fans will want to see if Monken gives Sanders a chance. Going with a very conservative set of play calls may indicate he is protecting his young quarterback, who may not be ready just yet.

Add us as a preferred source on Google