Three Cleveland Browns Who Balled Out During the First Week of 2026 Training Camp
Just one week into 2026 NFL Training Camp, the Cleveland Browns have already experienced a couple of lowlights. Deshaun Watson, who the football punditry expected to open the season as Cleveland’s starting quarterback, had a horrible week, as he threw multiple interceptions and embarrassed himself with subpar stat lines that have slowly morphed into a daily routine. Not only that, but a few skirmishes have also broken out, and you’ve already got fans on X and Instagram saying this year is a lost cause. However, it hasn’t all been negative in Berea.
Legendary cornerback and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders stopped by to watch his son Shedeur Sanders, who continues to turn heads with his play. The elder Sanders also met with Browns head coach Todd Monken, the first head coach of Shedeur’s to do so. Headlines about how Kevin Stefanski never met with ‘Coach Prime’ permeated Cleveland’s offseason last summer, so it’s good to see the progress. Speaking of progress, here are a few Browns who have already hit the ground running in the first week of training camp.
Dillon Gabriel
Although Sanders continued to impress with his play during the first week of training camp, it was his fellow second-year quarterback who stole the show to open up the month of August. Coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign, Dillon Gabriel has been lighting it up just a few weeks before the NFL Preseason. According to ESPN’s Cleveland Browns correspondent Daniel Oyefusi, the connection between Gabriel and fourth-year wideout Cedric Tillman has been so consistent that those present to watch had been comparing them to Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Obvious exaggeration aside, the former Oregon Duck has been doing his job against the third team while Sanders and Watson duke it out against the starters. The five-foot-eleven southpaw isn’t the conventional starting quarterback. Still, if he continues to show out in camp, he may fit into the signal-caller race as an unforeseen third-party candidate.
Denzel Boston
The Browns were especially lucky to get former Washington Huskie Denzel Boston in just the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. If he translates his training camp performances to game day, the pick will make the other 31 franchises feel even dumber. Boston’s week was capped off by hauling in multiple downfield passes from Sanders, a sight that had fans roaring in the stands. His six-foot-four frame should be the biggest x-factor in his professional career, and it’s already paying dividends. Alongside first-round pick KC Concepcion, who’s also off to a hot start, this 22-year-old receiver looks to be the franchise’s long-needed deep-ball threat.
Carson Schwesinger
The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is already being compared to a recently inducted Hall of Famer in just his second season. Cleveland’s new defensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg, mentioned to reporters this week that Carson Schwesinger received a new mentor this offseason-former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly. Rutenberg even went as far as to call the former UCLA Bruin the next Kuechly, and all the 23-year-old needs to do is add the vocal communication side of the Canton-bound linebacker's game to his own repertoire. His training camp play is already strong, but he has missed a day or two due to minor injuries. By the end of the season, expect to hear about the budding mentorship between the two linebackers as Schwesinger dominates the competition in 2026.
