The Cleveland Browns will be without starting right tackle Jack Conklin for the rest of the season with a torn patella tendon. As the team feared, Conklin’s injury on Sunday Night Football was a major one.
The Browns season is hanging by a very thin thread after their loss to the Baltimore Ravens. At 6-6, the team’s hope to compete for the AFC North is all but finished with five games remaining. Surprisingly, the team only sits a half-game back of a wild card spot but is slotted into the 12th seed at this point.
Any late playoff push will now be without Conklin. Blake Hance has stepped in as the team’s replacement for both Jedrick Wills and Conklin at tackle this season. Hance has struggled but played better than expected.
Rookie James Hudson III has looked even worse when stepping on the field but has a high upside that could be looked at if the team is eliminated from playoff contention soon.
Conklin has one more year left on his contract with Cleveland. If he struggles upon his return to health, the Browns could save $12 million in salary cap with only $3 million in dead money as a “post-June 1st” designated release. If he is not healthy, the team couldn’t cut him and save cap space.
The Ravens attacked Hance’s side of the ball quite often after Conklin went out, expect more of that in Week 14. Conklin’s timeline to return for 2022 depends on the success of the surgery and his rehabilitation process.