The Cleveland Browns will look to stay undefeated in Week 2 when they take on the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on Sunday. Building on their success against the Carolina Panthers on the NFL’s opening weekend, the Browns seem primed to make something special happen against the lowly Jets, and have their revitalized offense ready to prove that their Week 1 performance wasn’t a fluke.
With a full head of steam and a motivated roster, Cleveland is prepared to show the league that these aren’t the Browns of years past. Here are three players to keep your eyes on when Cleveland takes on New York in Week 2:
WR Amari Cooper
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
A steady presence in the middle of Cleveland’s defense, Owusu-Koramoah has made huge strides to become a key contributor for the unit since joining the team as a second-round pick last season. He is still acclimating to the pace of the NFL game but has proven to be a more than capable starter, though his impact wasn’t felt as much as some expected last week. Expect a big outing from Owusu-Koramoah as he looks to improve on his five-tackle effort against Carolina and force a turnover or two against the beleaguered Jets offense.
RB Kareem Hunt
This hard-nosed running back was the Browns’ second-leading receiver in last week’s effort, and with more of a work-load in the ground game could become the team’s premier duel threat at the position this season. His snaps are limited by the contributions of starter Nick Chubb, and rightfully so, but the advent of Cleveland’s two-back looks on offense should give Hunt the opportunities he needs to make his presence felt. It wouldn’t be out of the question for Hunt to make an out-sized impact against the Jets if he proves to have the hot hand early, and with a knack for acting as a consistent safety valve for interim quarterback Jacoby Brissett, Sunday’s matchup could turn into a masterclass by the sixth-year running back.