Injuries Crte Uncertainty At Offensive Tackle For Browns

The Cleveland Browns aren’t sure who their left tackle will be yet when they face the Ravens, the league leaders in sacks, in Week 10.

They’re not sure who their right tackle will be, either.

Injuries to left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Dawand Jones might force Cleveland to dig even deeper into their offensive line depth in their second matchup of the season against Baltimore. Wills suffered a knee injury in their last game against the Cardinals and was placed Monday on injured reserve. Jones didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice due to knee and shoulder injuries.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said he wasn’t sure if Jones will be available in Week 10.

“Don’t know,” Stefanski said. “He’s not going to practice today.”

If Jones is unable to play, the Browns would need to deploy backups at both tackle positions against a Ravens defense that has totaled 35 sacks this season — a rate of nearly four sacks per game.

Jones was already filling in for injured starter Jack Conklin at right tackle after Conklin suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 1. Jones was performing well in pass protection, too, allowing 15 pressures and attaining a pass block grade of 70.4 from Pro Football Focus, one of the highest among rookie tackles.

Jones and James Hudson III, who stepped in at left tackle when Wills was carted off during the win over the Cardinals, are the Browns’ top two tackle options. Hudson has appeared in seven games this season but has struggled at times, totaling a 46.6 offensive PFF grade and 37.9 pass-blocking grade in 102 snaps.

If Jones is healthy, the Browns could opt to swap Jones over to left tackle and move Hudson to the right side, where Jones could be more effective in keeping QB Deshaun Watson’s blind side clean. That job is particularly important after Watson returned from an injury to his throwing shoulder last week.

If Jones isn’t healthy, the Browns would be forced to play their fifth tackle of the season.

Stefanski didn’t offer any hints on who that would be though, repeatedly saying “We have options” when asked about the depth.

Those options include Geron Christian, a 2018 third-round pick by the Commanders who has played in 49 career games, or Leroy Watson, who was signed off the 49ers’ practice squad last week.

Alex Leatherwood, a 2021 first-round pick, and Justin Murray are also on the practice squad