Top Defensive Rookie Comes from the Browns
Cleveland’s defense was outstanding in Week 1, and they certainly played well enough to win. They allowed just 141 total yards to the Bengals, and it was one of the most dominant performances of the weekend. But turnovers by the offense ultimately cost the Browns the win.
While losses always hurt, fans of the Browns should be encouraged by their defense and several young players. That includes Carson Schwesinger, who already looks like one of the league’s best linebackers. In fact, you can make a case that he was clearly the league’s best rookie in Week 1.
Schwesinger is already a star for the Browns
When the Browns traded back from No. 2 to No. 5, the idea was that they needed to improve the depth of the roster and add several more quality players. And it’s hard to argue with that approach, especially after the way Schwesinger performed in Week 1.
The idea is that Mason Graham and Schwesinger, together, will be better in the long run for the Browns than just Travis Hunter, and the hope is that the 2026 first-round pick acquired from Jacksonville will give them another chance at a high-end starter. And through just one game, it’s hard to say that Andrew Berry and the front office were wrong. They found two impact players who should be staples of the defense moving forward.
Schwesinger was especially impressive against the Bengals, as he led the team in tackles and was all over the field. In a recent article by Lauren Gray of Pro Football Focus, she wrote about the top rookies in the NFL during Week 1. And the top defender, according to their grades, was none other than Schwesinger. Here is a snippet of what they had to say about the second-round pick from UCLA:
"Schwesinger graded out as the fifth-best linebacker in Week 1, making impact plays at every defensive phase. He stopped Chase Brown for a five-yard loss late in the fourth quarter, one of his three tackles across 20 run-defense snaps. He recorded a quarterback hit on four designed pass rushes. He also made a coverage stop, again against Brown, late in the third quarter, limiting a screen play to a one-yard gain."
Lauren Gray, Pro Football Focus
With Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out for the year with a neck injury, the Browns have desperately needed to find a linebacker who can replace him in the starting lineup. And while it’s just one game, it sure looks like they’ve found an adequate replacement. If “JOK” can ever make it back onto the field, the Browns could have one of the league’s most dynamic linebacker pairings. But even if he doesn’t, the unit is in good shape because of their second-round pick.
Keep an eye on Schwesinger again this week as the Browns are set to play the Ravens. The former UCLA star will be put to the test against arguably the league’s most difficult offense to defend. If he can shine again in that game, it’ll be time to really get excited about his future and where he ranks among the top linebackers in the league already.
Texans Planning Bigger Role for Nick Chubb
Expect to see some more Nick Chubb in the Houston Texans' offense after a solid Week 1 showing.
Following Houston's season opener loss vs. the LA Rams, 9-14, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans was still impressed by what he saw from Chubb in his debut since signing in June. In all, Chubb finished with 13 carries for 60 yards on the ground, averaging 4.6 yards a carry and leading the way in touches throughout the running back room.
And moving forward into the year, Ryans says he wants to lean on Chubb a bit more in the backfield.
"I think Chubb ran the ball really well," Ryans said in an interview with Texans Radio. "We tried to mix it up with the backs– got Woody some touches, Dameon [Pierce]– we're going to try to lean in with Chubb a little bit more."
"He deserves it. He’s shown that he continues to get better as the game went on. You saw him running stronger, finishing plays in a physical manner. So, we've got to get him going a little bit more, and I think he can really help us."
Chubb has seemingly made a super strong impression in the Texans' building since arriving on his one-year, $5 million deal in the offseason, and without Joe Mixon in the fold as he deals with a foot injury that has placed him on the Injured Reserve for at least the first four weeks of the year, the door has opened for Chubb to have some major responsibility in this scoring unit.
Chubb sits in the Texans' running back room alongside veteran Dameon Pierce, rookie Woody Marks, and team captain Dare Ogunbowale to share the workload with– certainly a group that faced a fair share of questions before the season, of just how the responsibilities would be divided in the backfield.
But, as Chubb continues to prove he's healthy from last season and the most productive guy in the room, Ryans clearly wants to get the ball in his hands in the run game while they deal with Mixon's absence– however long that may be– and bank on his physicality and consistent improvements to be a driving force in their work on the ground.
Chubb has reportedly been consistent and hard-working for the Texans dating back to training camp, has clear respect in the locker room from teammates and the coaching staff, and of course, has a proven track record in the league of being one of the better runners of the football in recent history while at his peak production.
That doesn't mean you won't see guys like Pierce, Marks, and Ogunbowale get some occasional reps their way as well, but if Ryans' comments prove true, we could very well be looking at the start of Chubb being a real bellcow in Houston.
