CLEVELAND — Eight days removed from their win over the New York Jets in the Hall of Fame Game, the Cleveland Browns will return to preseason action when they host the Washington Commanders at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Friday night.
What follows is everything you need to know about the Browns' preseason matchup:
Game info, how to watch on TV, betting line:
Date: Friday, August 11, 2023
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio
TV channel: Channel 5
Streaming: NFL+
Radio: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX
Betting line: Browns -3
Over-under point total: 38.5
Preview
While it was the backups -- and largely third and fourth stringers -- who played in the Hall of Fame Game, Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski has already committed to playing a majority of his starters, including quarterback Deshaun Watson, on Friday night.
With head-to-head practices scheduled against the Philadelphia Eagles next week, Friday's exhibition will likely be the most extended look Browns fans get at many of the team's key players ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
How Watson performs will be especially interesting after the 3-time Pro Bowl selection largely struggled through his first six games as Cleveland's quarterback in 2022. With a strong showing on Friday, the Browns could generate some newfound buzz heading into the 2023 campaign. A shaky performance, however, will raise questions regarding where Cleveland fits into a competitive AFC North as the Browns look to break a two-year playoff drought.