The depth chart at offensive guard is looking pretty barren for the Cleveland Browns after the NFL’s opt-out deadline. Young reserve Malcolm Pridgeon became the third guard to exercise his right to opt out from playing in 2020 due to the risk from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pridgeon joins fellow guards Colby Gossett and Drew Forbes on the opt-out list, along with undrafted rookie tackle Drake Dorbeck and defensive tackle Andrew Billings. The deadline passed at 4 p.m. on Thursday with those five Browns the only players taking the option.
Pridgeon is a second-year player out of Ohio State. He spent his rookie season on the Browns practice squad after originally signing as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans.
The Browns depth chart at guard is now Joel Bitonio starting on the left and Wyatt Teller on the right, backed up by Willie Wright and rookie Nick Harris, who is also the backup center. Former starting right tackle Chris Hubbard can also play guard in a pinch, and right now that pinch is a distinct possibility.
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