The third preseason game is the traditional “dress rehearsal” for NFL teams prepping for the regular season. It’s the one game where starters often play more than a token appearance at the start.
Some teams are threatening to eschew tradition and sit starters this weekend. The Rams, Lions and Packers have all indicated some question if they will play anyone of importance in the exhibition games in preseason Week 3.
Not Freddie Kitchens and the Browns. The rookie coach indicated on Wednesday that Baker Mayfield, Myles Garrett and the rest of the starters will indeed play in Friday night’s game in Tampa Bay.
How much will they play? That’s not something Kitchens is ready to divulge.
“We’re going to play our guys some,” Kitchens said after Wednesday’s practice, “and I don’t know how long yet.”
Kitchens continued in his press conference,
“Some of it factors in on how guys are feeling, little nicks and bumps that they may have because they’ve got nicks and bumps. We’ve had a physical camp. So you’ve just got to factor all those things in and make a determination (during the game).”
The starters will not play in the preseason finale vs. the Detroit Lions next week, Kitchens confirmed as well.
