We begin every Monday by checking in on how players, coaches and teams are trending across the NFL. It’s usually bad for Browns fans. Today is no exception.This article is from The Athletic’s NFL newsletter. Sign up here to receive it directly in your inbox. It’s free to subscribe. NFL Preseason Week 2 Risers📈 Optimism in New York. Geno Smith led the Jets on a 69-yard touchdown drive in his one series against most of the Steelers’ starting defense. He completed all seven throws for 65 yards and a 144.9 QB rating, all without running back Breece Hall. This offense could be … fun?📈 These backup quarterbacks. Joe Milton, the Cowboys uber-athletic third-stringer, carved up the Cardinals. His preseason stat line is now 21-for-28 with 298 yards and four total touchdowns. Few can deliver a 53-yard dime this effortlessly:He wasn’t the only quarterback who impressed while battling for a backup role.Buccaneers undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels of Kansas led three scoring drives while completing 9 of 14 passes for 71 yards. Former Bengals QB Jake Browning was expected to be Baker Mayfield’s No. 2. Keep an eye here.Falcons UDFA Jack Strand is a lab-built, 6-foot-5, 240-pounder. The Division II alum completed 8 of his first 9 passes and finished 12-of-17 for 212 yards with two total touchdowns. Reminder: Atlanta’s quarterback room is as uncertain as it gets.📈 MarShawn Lloyd. “His shiftiness, speed and explosiveness are unlike anything else the Packers have in their running back room,” Matt Schneidman wrote about Green Bay’s No. 2 back in his roster projections. Lloyd could see a lot of snaps if Josh Jacobs misses time (he faces a potential suspension relating to alleged domestic abuse).📈 Broncos offense. Bo Nix played just two drives but scored on both, with the first against mostly Packers starters. Nix completed 6 of 9 for 76 yards and a score. “I felt like exactly where I left off,” he said after his first game back from a broken ankle. One difference: Jaylen Waddle. Here’s the pair on a 30-plus-yard gain:NFL Preseason Week 2 Fallers📉 QB2 competition. Steelers quarterback Drew Allar came back to earth in Pittsburgh’s 17-0 loss to the Jets, completing just 11 of 23 passes for 110 yards. Mason Rudolph is likely backing up Aaron Rodgers in Week 1. Another rookie quarterback, the Rams’ Ty Simpson, had a fine performance (8-of-12 for 73 yards and an 83.0 rating), but is behind in L.A.’s QB2 battle.📉 Star QB protection. The Chiefs need to find Patrick Mahomes a starting right tackle. Undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson was challenging veteran Jaylon Moore for the job, but Benson’s poor showing (he allowed a pressure and strip sack) should give Kansas City pause. There are similar questions in Washington, where Jayden Daniels was either pressured or sacked on his two passing snaps.