A to Z Sports

Exciting rookies lead the players to watch in Packers vs. Browns preseason game

By Brandon Little,

1 day ago

Football is finally back! Well, kind of … on Saturday the Cleveland Browns will host the Green Bay Packers for the first preseason game for both teams . Don’t expect to see a ton of starters in this first dress rehearsal, and if you do they won’t be playing but a few plays.

The Packers are going to start Jordan Love , who recently signed a top-of-the-market deal at quarterback. Cleveland will start their backup quarterback Jameis Winston, a guy they targeted quickly in free agency to backup Deshaun Watson.

Other than that, both teams will play some of their starters and after that, it’ll be up to the depth and guys fighting for roster spots. When looking into a few names to watch on Saturday, six players stood out.

Green Bay Packers

Javon Bullard

Training camp has shown the rookie is exactly what the Packers expected from him when they took him in the second round. He's versatile and interchangeable, and his connection with free agent addition Xavier McKinney has a high-end potential. Now, we have to see him on the field with opposing offenses to have a better understanding of where the situation can go in 2024.

Bullard can play at safety alongside McKinney, where he has rotated with fourth-rounder Evan Williams, and also at slot cornerback as an alternative to Keisean Nixon. Beyond his performance, it will be interesting to see what his role will be in Jeff Hafley's defense.

Andre Dillard

Zach Tom is just getting back from a torn pec, and even then the Packers decided to play Jordan Love. The task to protect the franchise quarterback from the right side will be Andre Dillard's. The veteran tackle has had an underwhelming NFL career after being a first-round pick, and his camp with the Packers has been up and down at best. Kadeem Telfort is an option, but Dillard has the chane to show he deserves a roster spot — and if he can't hold up against the Browns' backups, it will be hard to justify that.

MarShawn Lloyd

The third-round running back missed some training camp time, but is now fully healthy. Ball security was an issue in college and has been in practice as well, so the preseason is the perfect opportunity to clear those question marks.

Josh Jacobs is obviously the starter, but Lloyd is also behind AJ Dillon on the depth chart. At this point, he's fighting with second-year player Emanuel Wilson for the third-string job, and this is the perfect moment for him to show he can make an immediate impact — and speed, his calling card, is something the Packers offense really need after releasing Aaron Jones.

Cleveland Browns

DT Mike Hall Jr.

Hall is the rookie who has the chance to have the biggest impact from the 2023 class for the Browns. While he is not going to be expected to start in 2024, he is going to have a role as an interior pass rusher. The first preseason game will be the first look at the Ohio State product, which is always an exciting moment.

Coaches and veterans on the team have been raving about Hall and how he is a pro already. His explosiveness off the snap is something that has been talked about a ton. Getting to see that in-game action for the first time against NFL bodies is worth the watch.

WR Cedric Tillman

Before training camp began, Tillman was talked about a ton about possibly being a player that could break out for Cleveland in 2024. The second-year wideout has had a strong start to training camp and very well could be on track to do just that. Last season, Tillman took a bit to get going but contributed a small amount toward the end of the year.

In his second year with the Browns, Tillman could end up being the No. 3 wide receiver option and that would be a win for Cleveland. In terms of this preseason game, Tillman should get some run early with Jameis Winston and it would come as no surprise if Winston targeted him multiple times.

WR Jamari Thrash

Cleveland has a few wide receivers battling for end-of-the-roster spots. Thrash is their fifth-round pick who is not guaranteed a spot on the 53-man but should be there when it is all said and done. Thrash has had a few standout moments early in camp and is a guy to watch in the preseason where he may play more than most. Wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea said on Tuesday that he liked Thrash’s ability to play inside and out. The rookie will be playing in all three preseason games and the first one against the Packers is a big moment for a guy that was at Georgia State two years ago.