Three players to watch in Browns' first preseason game

The Cleveland Browns are preparing for their first preseason action on Saturday when they host the Green Bay Packers.

On Tuesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said only "some" of the team's starters (not including quarterback Deshaun Watson) will play, and those who do will only get "about 10 plays."

With that in mind, here are three Browns to watch.

Wide receiver Cedric Tillman

Cleveland traded for wide receiver Jerry Jeudy this offseason to pair him with Amari Cooper, but who will be the No. 3 option is up for debate.

Wide receiver Elijah Moore has not panned out since the Browns traded a second-round pick for him a year ago. In 2023, he registered just 59 catches for 640 yards and two touchdowns.

That may pave the way for Tillman, a third-round pick in 2023. He didn't do much as a rookie last year, either, with just 21 catches for 224 yards and zero touchdowns, but he's gotten some glowing reviews out of training camp.

"I feel like Cedric's really attacked the offseason," wide receiver coach Chad O'Shea said , via Spencer German of WDTN2. "He's done the same here in training camp. He's really worked so hard to again, learn the offense to be better. ... I can't say enough about his work ethic and what he's done to try to improve every day."

Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr.

Without a first-round pick for the third straight year thanks to the Watson trade, Hall Jr. was the Browns' first selection (No. 54) in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Hall Jr. should only add to an already talented defensive line after recording 43 tackles and six sacks the past two years at Ohio State.

The 21-year-old should also provide some much-needed youth to the group, as Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris are each in their 30s and have missed time due to injuries in training camp.

He can establish a role on defense with a strong showing in the preseason.

Linebacker Devin Bush

Cleveland was able to retain most of its key free agents this offseason, but it did lose starting linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. (Dolphins) and Sione Takitaki (Patriots) in free agency.

The team answered by signing veterans Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush, both of whom are listed as starters on the unofficial depth chart , but only time will tell if they'll be able to keep the defense elite.

Hicks is coming off yet another productive year in which he registered 107 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries, one interception and five passes defensed in 13 games with the Vikings. Still, Bush continued to disappoint with just 37 tackles in 13 games with the Seahawks.

Bush has never been the same player since tearing his ACL in his second year. If he hopes to shed the label as a first-round bust, it will start with a strong performance on Saturday.