Which players could strengthen their chances of making the NY Giants roster the most, with a strong performance against the Browns in Week 2 of the NFL preseason?
The NY Giants will take another step closer to the regular season opener, when they visit the Cleveland Browns in Week 2 of the NFL preseason Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.
These are two franchises that have been in various stages of a rebuild since the 2018 season, with the Browns boasting a roster capable of challenging the Kansas City Chiefs for a berth in the Super Bowl, and the NY Giants hoping the pieces are in place to push for a .500 record this fall.
Preseason games are rarely a barometer, but these rosters are nowhere close to the same talent-level, at the moment.
But, for several players fighting for a spot on the NY Giants roster, a strong performance against the Browns could carry significant weight as the Giants‘ coaching staff continues their conversations to trim towards the 53 who will open the season Sept. 12 against the Denver Broncos.
Here’s a look at five players who can really help their chances of making the NY Giants roster with a strong performance against the Browns:
NY Giants RB Corey Clement
Somewhat surprisingly, veteran Alfred Morris was among the first players released by the NY Giants to get down to the 85-player limit this week.
So far, neither Devontae Booker or Clement have separated themselves in the competition to emerge as Saquon Barkley’s primary backup and change of pace backfield mate this season.
Against the Jets, in a disastrous showing for the Giants‘ offense, Clement lost a fumble, and will certainly be aiming to bounce back against the Browns.
Throughout training camp, Booker has gotten the bulk of the first-team reps, but Clement has seemingly been the more explosive back.
With Barkley sidelined once again, how the running back carries are distributed with the first-team will be a telling glimpse into the coaching staff’s thinking at the position, and perhaps a harbinger of how the position could take shape next month.