CLEVELAND — And then, there was one.
One final chance to impress as players and one more game to evaluate for the coaches and decision-makers around the National Football League.
After six weeks of practice and three exhibition games, the Cleveland Browns’ preseason has just one more act in it, and that is the preseason finale against the Detroit Lions at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland tonight.
The Great Lakes Classic or “The Battle for the Barge,” as it has become known because of the ship trophy awarded to the winners, will mark the final game before things count for real, as the 2019 regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday, September 8 is just 10 days away.
Here are three things to watch for during the Browns’ preseason finale.
Third quarterback battle
Baker Mayfield’s preseason is done, according to Browns coach Freddie Kitchens, and while he rests up for the season, the offense will be turned over to Garrett Gilbert and David Blough.
Gilbert enters the preseason finale having completed 27 of his 41 attempts (65.9 percent) for 286 yards with two touchdowns against no turnovers, while Blough has been successful with 14 of his 26 throws (53.8 percent) for 156 yards and two scores.
Gilbert came to the Browns after a successful stint in the Alliance of American Football.
Gilbert completed 60.6 percent of his throws for 2,152 yards and 13 touchdowns with six successful two-point conversion tries, as well as 79 yards and one touchdown with a two-point score on 24 rushes out of the backfield with the Orlando Apollos.
Braxton Miller's role
Veteran wide receiver Braxton Miller was signed by the Browns on the eve of the final practice of training camp last week, but despite the late start, he is very much in the mix for a spot on the team.
Miller has one more chance to show what he can do for the team after getting a limited amount of repetitions in practice and the Browns’ third exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida last Friday night.
In two years with the Houston Texans, Miller caught 34 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns while playing in just 21 games. Additionally, there is the matter of Miller’s running abilities, as he registered 3,315 rushing yards and 33 touchdowns on 600 carries at Ohio State and twice rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a single season in college.
“I think he is picking up the offense,” Kitchens said. “That tells you a little bit about his learning ability. We will see if we can put him in some positions to make some plays Thursday night. He is doing well, though.”
Greg Joseph's chance
Rookie kicker Austin Seibert got his full-game audition against the Buccaneers, and now, it could be Joseph’s turn to make his case.
Joseph was signed in the early part of the 2018 season after Zane Gonzalez missed four kicks in a one-score loss at the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
In 14 games with the Browns last season, Joseph converted 17 of his 20 field goal attempts (85 percent), with all three of his misses coming at distances over 40 yards. Also, Joseph made 25 of his 29 point-after tries (86.2 percent).
But Joseph may have to do better than that, as Seibert converted all four of his field goal attempts, including a 54-yarder, in Tampa Bay last week.