The Browns are headed to Tampa, Fla. for their second straight road game on Sept. 20 to face the Buccaneers in Week 2.
Following their season-opening loss to the Jaguars, head coach Todd Monken has been pleased with the Browns' response and how they have handled this week.
"I've seen it like they've handled every week that I've been here, and that's go to work," Monken said. "And that's what's really been impressive with this group is they just work. They enjoy being around each other (and) they enjoy football. Now, how do we clean the things up that we need to clean up? That's really where we've got to get to."
Here are three burning questions entering Week 2.
How will the Browns' defensive line pressure QB Baker Mayfield?
Cleveland views its defensive line as the engine of the defense. The role of the Browns' front unit in their attack-style system is to be the first line of defense, pressure the quarterback relentlessly and be the first ones to the ball. But the Jaguars limited the defensive line's production to one sack and two quarterback hits in the season-opener.
Facing off with the Buccaneers, the Browns will have to pressure QB Baker Mayfield to limit Tampa Bay's success on offense. One key to making that happen is for DE Jared Verse to play his style of football at a high level within the Browns' defensive system.
"I was starting to think too much and that's something I don't do when I play. I just let myself freely play kind of get into, for lack of better words, a flow state, and I wasn't in that flow state," Verse said. "I was trying to force too much, so I'm just going to get back to playing how I play."
In addition to Verse, the entire Browns' defensive line will look to make their presence felt against the Buccaneers. And they have an opportunity to do so as Mayfield was sacked four times and fumbled the ball three times in Tampa Bay's Week 1 loss to the Bengals.
"Everybody didn't like the way we necessarily played last week," DT Maliek Collins said. "So, everybody's urgent and getting the corrections made, whether it's physical, whether it's mental, whether it's scheme wise. We are all bought in to perform better."
How will the Browns establish the run game?
Entering the matchup with the Buccaneers, Cleveland's offense will look to establish its rushing attack against a stout Tampa Bay defensive front. Led by NT Vita Vea, the Buccaneers limited the Bengals to 106 rushing yards on 27 attempts in Week 1 – just 3.9 yards per carry. In 2025, the Buccaneers held opponents to 99.1 rushing yards per game, the fifth fewest in the NFL.
After RB Dylan Sampson was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 15, the Browns have RB Quinshon Judkins, RB Jaleel McLaughlin and RB Raheim Sanders as options in the backfield to help establish the ground game. Judkins led Cleveland rushing attempts in Week 1 with 12 carries and will look to lead the Browns' rushing attack with his physical style of play.
In Week 1 against the Jaguars, though, the Browns struggled at times to effectively run the football against Jacksonville's front. They finished the game with 22 rushing attempts for 87 yards, averaging four yards per carry.
"We can certainly do it better schematically, coaching and playing," Monken said. "I expect us, as the year goes on, to continue to get better and better with the O-line playing together. I think that's a part of it. We're new as a staff. These aren't excuses, we certainly have to do it better and get our O-line working together with our tight ends. And I think you'll continue to see the run game grow."
How will the Browns improve their offensive operation?
The Browns were called for 11 penalties that cost them 75 yards in Week 1 against the Jaguars, with six of those coming on offense. Of the six offensive penalties, Cleveland committed two false starts and two delay of games.
"It wasn't good enough," Monken said on the Browns' offensive operation. "I wasn't anticipating that, I really wasn't. So, what are we going to do? We're going to fight like hell to get better at the operation. We all got to own that, that's not a one-player thing, that's a coaching thing, that's a playing thing. I did not anticipate that; I really did not. But that's okay. The operation, as much as it was disappointing, was not the reason we lost. It was a piece of it, but it wasn't everything. There were other pieces that were part of it. We just got to clean it up."
QB Deshaun Watson believes that one way to limit the Browns' operational mistakes is to speed up the process of getting in and out of the huddle.
"It was early on, loud, and just everybody, we have different, multiple plays in one play call, so being able to hear everything, get off, get set up, see what the defense is doing, motion, signals, all these different things," Watson said. "We definitely need to work hard on that, and that's one of the main focuses. Before we can even have success on the drive, we've got to be able to operate at a high level."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Xavier Truss (67) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Michael Coats Jr. (39) and Assistant Strength and Conditioning/Sports Science Coach Josh Christovich during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Austin Barber (58) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Jared Verse (8) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Bub Means (81) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Obinna Eze (68) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Austin Barber (58) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Sam Williams (54) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Xavier Truss (67) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Messiah Swinson (84) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Center Luke Wypler (56) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) and Quarterback Taylen Green (15) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Linebacker Quincy Williams (5) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (20) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Kole Wilson (87) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive end Derek Barnett (97) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Tylan Wallace (16) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver KC Concepcion Jr. (1) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Obinna Eze (68) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Line Coach George Warhop during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Fullback Michael Burton (34) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Denzel Boston (12) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Analyst Travis Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Wide receiver Tylan Wallace (16) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Messiah Swinson (84) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive Quality Control Coach Ian Kolste during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Tight end Messiah Swinson (84) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive tackle Obinna Eze (68) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Director of Strength and Conditioning Larry Jackson during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Mekhi Blackmon (29) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (20) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Monty Gibson during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zion Johnson (77) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) and Quarterback Dillon Gabriel (6) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Assistant Quarterbacks Coach Matt Baker during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. (51) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Pass Game Coordinator Danny Breyer during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Offensive guard Zion Johnson (77) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Head Coach Todd Monken during practice on September 16, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
Running back Eric Gray (41) during practice on September 17, 2026 at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
