CLEVELAND — The time is finally here! Football has returned, and the Cleveland Browns are almost back in action.
The Browns are looking to take the next step after advancing to the playoffs last year for only the third time since 1999. Despite a rash of injuries to key players, Cleveland somehow managed to finish 11-6 before losing to Houston in the AFC wild-card game.
The Browns had a very active offseason, which included the additions of WR Jerry Jeudy and new offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. Both moves come as they look to build an offense around QB Deshaun Watson, who is returning following last year's season-ending shoulder surgery.
The team is also counting on a repeat dominant performance from the defense, led by All-Pro Myles Garrett.
Here are the biggest storylines to follow as the Browns kick off the 2024 season on Sunday, Sept. 8, against the Dallas Cowboys at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland.
The question on every Browns fan's mind: Can Deshaun Watson regain his former greatness?
Watson has been heavily scrutinized since coming to the Browns following a blockbuster 2022 trade with the Houston Texans that resulted in him receiving a whopping $230 million contract. Ultimately since that deal, Watson has spent more time off the field than on it.
In 2022, Watson was suspended for 11 games after being accused by more than two dozen women of sexual assault and misconduct during massage therapy sessions in Houston. He led the Browns to a 3-3 record in the final six games of the season, but looked rusty at times as he completed just 58% of his passes.
After a sluggish start last season, Watson seemed to finally show flashes of his three-time Pro Bowl self prior to his injury. The last time Browns fans saw him on the field in November of 2023, he led the team to a come-from-behind win in Baltimore, completing all of his final 14 pass attempts despite sustaining a shoulder fracture.
Overall, Watson is 8-4 in his 12 games in Cleveland, completing 59.8% of his passes with a rating of 81.7. Those numbers are well below what he put up in Houston, where he had a rating of 104.5 and a completion percentage of 67.8%.
Two years after the controversial trade, the Browns are hopeful that Watson is finally healthy and ready to show that he can not only be the franchise quarterback, but the man to lead the team to the promised land. Will the Browns (and their fans) finally get the bang for their buck?
One thing to remember: Watson's passing game will be heavily relied upon at the beginning of the season as RB Nick Chubb continues to recover from two knee surgeries. Chubb was put on the PUP list, meaning he will be out for at least the first four games of 2024.
Can new OC Ken Dorsey make a difference in Cleveland?
Following the team's playoff loss against the Texans, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski shook things up by firing offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, which came as a surprise to some.
For the Browns' new offensive coordinator, 2024 marks a homecoming of sorts as Dorsey played for Cleveland as quarterback from 2006-08. Dorsey comes to Cleveland after a troubled 2023 season with the Bills in which he was fired after Buffalo started 5-5 with him making the play calls.
However, Dorsey's job in Cleveland will be different, as Stefanski has already confirmed that he will remain the primary play-caller for the offense in addition to his head coaching duties. Despite being in a semi-different role from his previous OC stint, Dorsey will be asked to make offensive adjustments to better suit the team going forward.
Time will tell if Dorsey is the right fit for Cleveland, but hopefully, his expertise can help the team move forward by emphasizing offensive efficiency and capitalizing on converting more third downs. In addition, he will be tasked with assisting Stefanski creatively in more crucial situations and not settling for field goals.
It will be interesting to see Dorsey's game planning with the Browns poised to have a healthy Watson following last year's injury.
Dorsey does have a track record of guiding NFL quarterback success. He is credited with developing Josh Allen into one the league's top passers in Buffalo. In addition, Cam Newton also became league MVP in 2015 while being coached by Dorsey in Carolina.
Can the Browns' defense remain elite against one of the toughest schedules in the NFL?
Last year, Cleveland's defense under Jim Schwartz was the strongest in the league, with the Browns allowing the fewest yards per game at 270.2. The unit relied heavily on blitzing and high rates of man coverage.
With most of last year's key performers back, including reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Garrett, Cleveland is poised to have one of the most robust defenses again.
But can they remain elite?
Despite its top ranking, there is clearly room for improvement for the Browns defense. For example, the team struggled with defending the red zone last year, allowing 71.1% of drives to end in a touchdown.
Keep in mind that the Browns and their defense will also deal with one of the league's most difficult schedules in 2024. Consider some of the quarterbacks that will be on the opposite side of the ball:
- Dallas - Dak Prescott
- Cincinnati - Joe Burrow (twice)
- Baltimore - Lamar Jackson (twice)
- Kansas City - Patrick Mahomes
- L.A. Chargers - Justin Herbert
- Miami - Tua Tagovailoa
The defensive line is again powered by veteran players, including Garrett, Ogbo Okronkwo, Shelby Harris, Maurice Hurst, and Za'Darius Smith. The team also added Quinton Jefferson, a veteran defensive tackle who spent the 2023 season with the New York Jets.
Pro Bowler Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will anchor the linebackers, while the secondary boasts talent and experience in CBs Denzel Ward, M.J. Emerson, and Greg Newsome to go along with safeties Grant Delpit and Juan Thornhill.
All the pieces are in place. If the Browns defense can have a repeat of its 2023 performance, the team can and should take another step forward.
Should fans be concerned about the Browns' offensive line?
During training camp and the NFL preseason, the offensive line was one of the most glaring issues for the Browns.
Most notably, the team was missing both LT Jed Wills and RT Jack Conklin, who each suffered season-ending knee injuries in the 2023 season. In addition, second-year tackle Dawand Jones was also recovering from knee surgery of his own.
The good news is that all three are back practicing. Most recently, Conklin made his return on Aug. 28, while Wills came back on Wednesday.
As the Browns head into Week 1, there is a looming question of who will start in the tackle spots. The question takes on added importance when you consider who will be protecting Watson's blindside against Dallas' All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons.
Wills noted at practice that he would not be starting this week against the Cowboys, although Stefanski said it is possible that Wills could play on Sunday.
With the situation unclear, the Browns have explored the option of moving Conklin to the left side with Jones likely to start on the right.