The Browns Add Another Unexpected Player to The Injury Report as Their Offensive Line Woes Continue.
BEREA, Ohio – Well, it’s week 3 and we still do not have clarity on the Browns tackle situation; in fact, we received a new wrinkle today as Right Tackle Dawand Jones showed up with a knee injury on the pre-practice injury report. So now the question becomes, who is starting on both sides of the line for the Browns?
The Browns struggles on the offensive line have been well-documented in the first two games of the season. They currently rank as the most penalized offensive line group in the entire league (9), and starting Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked 8 times - tied for second-most amongst starting Quarterbacks with 49ers Quarterback Brock Purdy.
There was some improvement from their week 1 disaster against the Cowboys. In week one Watson had an average pocket time of 2.3 seconds, was sacked 6 times, and was hurried 12 times. Comparatively, against the Jaguars Watson’s average pocket time was 2.8 seconds, he was sacked 2 times, and he was hurried 4 times. While the Browns line took a significant jump from week 1, it is clear that they are weathering the storm until Tackles Jack Conklin and Jed Wills get healthy.
“Yeah, I mean it’s a long season, so there’s a rush to come back to be with the team but you can't rush an injury like this,” Tackle Jed Wills said on the long injury process. “You gotta make sure you are 100% healthy so you don’t re-injure it so you play from there and (be) there week in and week out.”
Wills has been out since week 9 of last year when he injured his knee against the Cardinals in a 27-0 victory for the Browns at home. Wills returned to practice for the first time before the Browns week 1 matchup with the Cowboys, but it continues to be a slow ramp-up for Wills.
“We’ll see” Said Coach Kevin Stefanski when asked where Jack Conklin and Jed Wills stand for Sunday. “I understand the questions guys I would just tell you with any injury you have to concern yourself with that day how they feel in practice how they feel coming out of practice those types of things.”
Conklin seems closer than Wills to returning to game action. In the last two weeks, both Stefanski and Conklin have stated that Conklin was “close” to being game-ready before ultimately being listed as inactive.
“I’m feeling better and better every week, so I think there’s a good shot that if this week goes well I’ll be ready to roll,” Conklin told media Wednesday.
If Conklin is ready this week he will likely replace James Hudson at Left Tackle. However, there is the issue of Dawand Jones making a special cameo on the injury report.
“(his) Injury occurred in the game, he is out today but can’t really go past today.” Coach Stefanski said when asked about Jones' status for Sunday.
Despite his knee injury Jones told the media Wednesday that he should be ready for Sunday as long as everything goes well.
Jones has not had the start he has wanted in his sophomore campaign. Jones is tied for the 2nd most penalties of any offensive linemen in the league (3). Despite his penalty issues, he has shown flashes of excellence on the right side and is a vital piece to the offensive line's success.