The Cleveland Browns have made several moves to strengthen their roster this offseason. However, new signing Tytus Howard has already kicked off his Cleveland career on a sour note.

The offensive tackle recently received a $12,537 fine from the NFL. His offense? Unnecessary roughness during the Browns' preseason matchup against the Chicago Bears.

The incident happened during the first quarter. Howard tripped up an opposing player during an offensive drive, drawing the attention of the officials.

While it may seem like a minor incident, the hefty fine serves as an early reminder. Howard will need to be more careful once the games begin to count.

For now, the Browns will hope the incident remains nothing more than a preseason blip. Howard has only just arrived in Cleveland, and there is plenty of time to turn things around.

The Browns must get off to a hot start this season

Cleveland cannot afford mistakes like this once the regular season begins. The Browns already have enough distractions surrounding the team heading into 2026.

The quarterback situation has been the biggest source of drama. Deshaun Watson has been named QB1, while rookie Shedeur Sanders will begin the season as his backup. That decision has created plenty of debate among Browns fans and a slow start could only make those conversations louder.

Cleveland therefore needs to hit the ground running. The team has talent across the roster, but avoiding unnecessary mistakes will be crucial.

If the Browns can start strongly, they can quickly move past the noise surrounding the team. But if mistakes begin piling up, the pressure will only increase.

Written by

Joseph Nithin