Cleveland’s offensive line has taken so many hits this year
The play was just like every other passing down for the Cleveland Browns in Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. QB Jameis Winston dropped back to pass as the front five took on their defensive counterparts. Except on this play, RG Wyatt Teller was pushed backward and fell right onto the ankle of LT Dawand Jones.
RELATED: BROWNS INJURIES VERSUS SAINTS
Jones took off his helmet and laid on his back while on the turf barely moving except for a big paw reaching down towards his lower leg. The trainers immediately rushed onto the field. Soon after, the medical cart was summoned, Jones was fitted with an air cast, loaded and then whisked off towards the locker room for x-rays. He would be labeled “doubtful” but soon that was changed to “out” for the remainder of the game.
After the game, a 35-14 loss to the hometown Saints, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Jones had a fractured ankle and would be out for the remainder of the season. The injury will require surgery.
In a post-game interview, Stefanski stated:
“On the injury front with Dawand, he has a fracture in his leg. That will require surgery, so that will end his season.”
The incident occurred right before the half. Teller was shoved backward, lost his balance, and then rolled onto Jones who was engaged with Saints DE Carl Granderson.
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Jones had been declared the starter after Jed Wills was ruled inactive for the game with a setback with a recurring knee injury of his own. After Jones left the game, veteran Germaine Ifedi filled in and did a nice job for the remainder of the contest.
Stefanski added:
“Yeah, I thought he did some decent things over there. Disappointing for any guy who is out for the season when they have a season-ending injury. He knew it right away. I feel badly for him.”
In Week 1 of this year, Jones had a minor injury but returned. Jones had a knee injury last season. The result was he landed on IR and did not return until this year.
It should become clear that the Browns will need to get Wills back completely healthy to take control of his old spot along the offensive line. Ifedi will certainly become an option either way and maybe the starter going forward.
The offensive line has taken the most hits with the injury bug of any position group for Cleveland. Listed on IR are offensive tackles Hakeem Adeniji and James Hudson, centers Nick Harris and Luke Wypler, and long-snapper Charley Hughlett. The only healthy tackles listed on the roster are Jack Conklin, Wills, and Ifedi. LT Lorenzo Thompson and RT Roy Mbaeteka are practice squad members along with rookie OG Javion Cohen and C Cameron Tom.
Ifedi was signed during free agency this off-season and has played in 109 NFL games with 83 starts mainly on the right side.
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The Browns square off against division leader Pittsburgh Steelers on a short week on Thursday Night Football. The home game has a kickoff at 8:15 p.m. (Eastern) and is broadcast on Prime.
Stefanksi did address the situation regarding Wills:
“Just thought it was a good idea to have (Wills) come up Thursday, make sure he gets treated. There’s a chance he may play Thursday.”
The Browns see Jones as the answer to their left tackle problems they have experienced with the inconsistency of Wills. The franchise has drafted Zak Zinter and Wypler as key core replacements as the current array of players age out or large contracts are due.
At the same press conference, DE Myles Garrett was asked his opinion about the Jones injury:
“We’ve all had those valleys in our lives. You have to look forward to how to get back out there. It’s just one step at a time. We got to be there with (Jones) to walk along the way.”
Jones was drafted in the fourth round out of Ohio State in 2023 and started nine games at right tackle for Jack Conklin last year before his season-ending MCL injury. He started the first five games at right tackle this year and then was inserted at left tackle in Week 8.