The Browns will have a bit of familiarity with their opponent for the second game of the preseason, as they hosted the Vikings for joint practices this week. They used the two days of practice to allow their first and second-team players to take a majority of the reps against an opposing team.
While the second preseason game will not feature the Browns' starters, it opens the door for backups and younger players to gain game reps.
Here are three keys to Saturday's game.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson's command of the offense
Following the final joint practice with the Vikings on Aug. 15, head coach Kevin Stefanski said second-year QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson would start the second preseason game against the Vikings. QB Tyler Huntley will also play and finish the game.
The game reps for Thompson-Robinson will be important as he works to showcase what he can provide as a backup option at quarterback and how he can command the offense. In the second half of the first preseason game against the Packers, Thompson-Robinson completed 14-of-18 of his passing attempts for 134 yards, recording a 78-completion percentage.
"His whole thing is a process, so certainly those games are a big part of it because you get to go up against a different opponent," Stefanski said. "It's in a game setting, so it's all part of it or that's a big part of it."
During his rookie season, Thompson-Robinson led the Browns to a win over the Steelers in Week 11 of the season. But then he fell in and out of the rotation, and then suffered a hip injury that ended his rookie season.
He used the offseason to rehab from the injury, and worked his way back through the offseason program, OTAs and training camp. Stefanski has seen a level of growth in Thompson-Robinson throughout the 2024 offseason.
"I really go back to practice and how Dorian's been once he came back and was cleared to finally practice," Stefanski said. "It was towards the tail end of the offseason program, got a little bit of plays in back then and then really has attacked this training camp. [He's] done a nice job of making every rep count, making every meeting count, and certainly had some nice plays out there [on Aug. 10]."
Pressure Vikings quarterbacks Nick Mullens and Jaren Hall
While the Browns front seven won't feature reigning Defensive Player of the Year DE Myles Garrett or other starters, their attack-style defense still has the opportunity to apply pressure whether they face QB Nick Mullens or QB Jaren Hall.
Mullens, who threw for 1,306 yards and seven touchdowns in the five games he played in 2023, also took 12 sacks. The Browns will have to get off the blocks from a Vikings offensive line – which improved on the second day of joint practices – to reach Mullens or Hall.
During the second day of joint practices in the 11-on-11 red zone drills, Mullens connected with RB Myles Gaskin and WR Lucky Jackson in the end zone on back-to-back reps.
Establish a presence in the run game
Last season, the Vikings were eighth in the league in total rushing yards allowed with 1,679. This year, Minnesota's front seven has a number of new faces, especially in their outside linebacker unit with Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Grinkle – who brought in early during free agency – and first-round pick Dallas Turner.
The Browns have a chance to rely on their offensive line to open up run lanes and find gaps in the front seven to establish the run game. Their run game displayed glimpses in their first preseason game against the Packers, highlighted by RB Aidan Robbins 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter when he took a handoff from Thompson-Robinson and ran up the middle into the end zone.
RB D'Onta Foreman has also been back out at practice and participating in reps during both individual and team drills. He's had some solid runs throughout practice and showcasing his potential to the running back room and could gain some crucial game reps against the Vikings.
"Excited that he's back," Stefanski said. "Obviously, you guys were there down at The Greenbrier. That was scary. That was not something you ever want to see for your player. But obviously we knew quickly that it was going to be something that he would bounce back from, and he has. He runs tough. We like how he operates in this offense, so he's given us some really good reps."
