Rookie Receivers Denzel Boston, KC Concepcion Jr. Rising as Reliable Targets in Browns’ Passing Attack
The Cleveland Browns sit atop the AFC North at 3-1 after a 27-24 Thursday Night Football victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 1, 2026, at Huntington Bank Field. Rookie wide receivers Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion Jr. have emerged as important contributors in the passing game for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Cornerback Denzel Ward emphasized the mood in the locker room after the win, saying, “We’re winning, man, that’s the biggest energy you need.” The pair have become focal points in Cleveland’s offense through four games.
Denzel Boston led the Browns with 89 receiving yards on four catches against Pittsburgh, including a 60-yard reception that was the first play of the second-quarter drive and the team’s longest play of the season. Boston has 284 receiving yards through four games, the most by a Browns rookie in that span, and Watson has targeted him for deep completions in three of the first four games, producing two touchdowns. The connection with Watson has stretched defenses and created more space for Cleveland’s offense. Coaches have credited his physical approach and catch radius for his early production.
KC Concepcion Jr. finished Week 4 with five receptions for 64 yards and made several pivotal completions, including gains of 21 and 25 yards that helped sustain scoring drives. He has continued to build a rapport with Watson in the first month of the season. Head coach Todd Monken said, “The same with KC (Concepcion Jr.), they’re wired the right way,” and called him “made of the right stuff,” noting that mentality helps players work through the ups and downs of an NFL season. Concepcion’s timely plays have given Cleveland another reliable option in the intermediate passing game.
The two rookies were instrumental on the second-quarter series that began with Boston’s 60-yard catch on the first play of the drive. Watson followed with a completion to Concepcion, and two plays later running back Quinshon Judkins scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to cap the series. The sequence swung momentum in Cleveland’s favor and underscored the rookies’ impact on game-changing drives. Their contributions helped the Browns maintain control late in the game.
Monken praised both receivers for their work ethic and competitive makeup. He said Boston “is tough physically and mentally, he’s diligent, he’s got an excellent catch radius and plays strong to the ball” and that Boston “is only going to continue to get better.” On Concepcion, Monken reiterated that surrounding the team with players who have that mentality gives Cleveland a better chance to win. The coach noted that such mental stamina allows players to move on to the next play and sustain performance across a season.
The team’s news notes credited punter Corey Bojorquez with playing a pivotal role in the punt game through the first four weeks. That special-teams performance factored into field-position battles over the early schedule. The Browns will look for consistency from both offense and special teams as they aim to build on their divisional standing. The development of young receivers, paired with steady special-teams play, has helped Cleveland reach this 3-1 start.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Boston and Concepcion Jr. have provided immediate depth and playmaking on the perimeter, giving quarterback Deshaun Watson reliable vertical and intermediate targets that stretch opposing defenses. Boston’s early yardage total and long-play ability force opponents to account for deep shots, while Concepcion’s timely gains show he can sustain drives and convert in space. If the rookies continue to develop at this pace, the Browns’ passing attack will be more difficult to defend and less reliant on any single receiver. That balance will be important as Cleveland pursues divisional control and consistency over the remainder of the schedule.