Heading into Thursday night’s preseason opener against the Redskins, the Browns list Isaiah Crowell as the starting running back.
Crowell is a talented 23-year-old who shattered his undrafted expectations in 2014 with eight touchdowns and a thundering running style. Crowell averaged 4.1 yards per carry and his two biggest games, against the Steelers at home and the Falcons on the road, were monumental Browns victories.
But just because Crowell is set to start Thursday against Washington does not mean Cleveland is ready to anoint him as its bell cow, 20-carries per game, running back. On Sunday, running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery challenged one of his running backs to truly stand out and seize the job.