Who the Cleveland Browns Plan to Play in Their Final Preseason Game

Suddenly, the Cleveland Browns just have one preseason game to go until the 2026 season begins on September 13th vs the Jaguars. Cleveland has not fared well in the preseason so far, as they are 0-2 with losses to the Bears and Bills.

We know these games do not count, but they do matter for many players trying to make the roster, secure starting spots, or make the practice squad. The quarterback drama will finally end tomorrow when Todd Monken officially names the team's QB1; for now, we know who will be playing in their preseason finale vs. New England.

Monken says the starters will get a rest, and the backups will get the bulk of the work on Thursday.

Todd Monken does not anticipate playing starters in the Browns’ preseason finale against the Patriots on Thursday night.
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) August 23, 2026

Expect to see second-year guy Dillon Gabriel under center first for the Browns, then rookie Taylen Green to get some game time. Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will mostly be in the backfield again, as he was for the Buffalo game yesterday. As far as Gabriel’s weapons, he’ll be throwing to guys like Malachi Corley, Luke Floriea, and Gage Larvadain.

The offensive line will be an interesting group to watch the whole day, as we saw some young guys battling on Saturday. Against Buffalo, the lineup started as KT Leveston at left tackle, Zak Zinter at left guard, Luke Wypler at Center, Austin Barber at right guard, and Dawand Jones at right tackle. Kingsley Eguakun rotated in to play center a bit, Jeremiah Byers got run at left guard, Tyre Phillips at right tackle, and Izavion Miller came to play right guard.

The line looked solid vs Buffalo, giving Shedeur comfortable time to throw; we can hope that play stands for Gabriel.

The spot that will get a lot of looks on defense will be the starting defensive end opposite of Jared Verse because of the heartbreaking season-ending injury to Alex Wright.

Cleveland signed veteran Derek Barnett for depth, but the starter could also come from one of the guys still battling it out. That would be players like Isaiah McGuire, Julian Okwara, Benton Whitley, or even Mike Hall Jr., who was playing on the edge yesterday and collected a huge sack.

Winston Reid and Nathaniel Watson will lead the group of linebackers, both still looking to earn that third starting job among Carson Schwesinger and Quincy Williams. The rookie from Alabama, Justin Jefferson, will be another player to watch.

In the secondary, the corners will consist of Tre Avery, Michael Coats Jr, Jeremiah McClendon, and Tyler Hall, while the safeties are rookie Emmanuell McNeil-Warren, and second-year guys Donovan McMillion and Christopher Edmonds.

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