Tag: Jack Conklin

Injuries to key DBs highlight Ravens’ struggles with pass defense in loss to Browns

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware they could exploit the secondary.

Those who call the NFL a league of parity (not “parody,” OMG! That common malapropism drives me insane) could certainly point to today’s 29-24 win by the Cleveland Browns over the Baltimore Ravens.

Worst beat first in the AFC North division as Baltimore’s five-game win streak ended, as did Cleveland’s five-game losing skid.

Jameis Winston, who many football pundits have declared “washed” for some time, finished 27 of 41 passing for 334 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while leading the Browns’ offense to heights that had not been seen under their franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson this season.

The Ravens entered this game dead last in the league in pass defense, so the Browns were well aware the secondary was a position group that could potentially be exploited.

And things worsened for Baltimore even before a single pass was thrown, as Nate Wiggins (illness), Marlon Humphrey (ankle), and T.J. Tampa (IR) were all ruled out.

More change was still to come in the defensive backs position group, as Marcus Williams was benched for being largely ineffective this season. The Ravens’ pass defense has been a persistent problem this year, but it’s not as bad as it may seem.

Baltimore is so stout against the run that opponents consistently find themselves having to rely on their passing attacks heavily. Also, the Ravens entered the day in first place, with a 5-2 record, and teams with winning records tend to find themselves ahead, and even well ahead, most of the time.

And what do you do when you’re behind, often well behind?  You pretty much have to pass.

So, while today was undoubtedly a shocking surprise defeat, all is not lost.

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Ravens take a step back in shocking 29-24 loss to the Browns in Week 8

Baltimore has a penchant for blowing late fourth-quarter leads, but on Sunday, the Ravens took a step back toward the inconsistent unit that lost two straight to start the season.

In what can only be described as a shocking loss, the Cleveland Browns had their most impactful performance without Deshaun Watson in a 29-24 victory over first-place Baltimore in Week 8.

Lamar Jackson started the game 6-6 passing but finished 23-38 passing, for 289 yards (7.6 avg), two touchdowns, and zero interceptions with a 101.8 rating. Just like Baltimore had their five-game winning streak snapped, star running back Derrick Henry came back to earth, rushing for only 73 yards (6.6 avg) and one touchdown on 11 carries.

After missing two practices during the week with an ankle injury, second-year wideout Zay Flowers posted another 100-yard game, logging seven catches for 115 yards on the afternoon.

Zach Orr’s defense played without two starters at cornerback, and Jameis Winston carved up the Ravens. The former Heisman Trophy winner went 23-38 passing for 334 yards and three touchdowns.

The Browns took the lead when Winston threw a 38-yard touchdown pass — his third of the game — to Cedric Tillman with 59 seconds left as Cleveland erased weeks of frustration.

Baltimore will now look to regroup with Bo Nix and the upstart Broncos heading to M&T Bank Stadium in Week 9.

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Veteran Jack Conklin gets the start over struggling Dawand Jones

The Browns make a change to their offensive line with the return of the two-time All-Pro

The Cleveland Browns have finally gotten Jack Conklin back on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he even got the start over second-year player Dawand Jones.

Conklin, who suffered a severe knee injury in the first week of the season in 2023 and missed the rest of the season and the first six weeks this year, is finally back in the lineup. Head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that he would not disclose the role of Conklin heading into this Week 6 game.

Then he stepped onto the field with the first-team offense at the right tackle post. This does not come as too much of a surprise as Jones has struggled mightily in his second season after a stellar rookie campaign. With Jedrick Wills making his second start in a row and third on the season, the Browns have their original starting offensive tackles back on the field for the first time this season as they look to right the ship against the Eagles.

One Browns All-Pro set for first game back since Week 1 of 2023

Jack Conklin will make his season debut on Sunday against the Eagles

The Cleveland Browns desperately need a win, currently sitting at 1-4 with the Philadelphia Eagles next up on their schedule, and they may just get a boost with offensive tackle Jack Conklin set to make his debut.

Conklin, an All-Pro for the Browns in 2020 (his second time being named to the list), has struggled to consistently stay on the field. He suffered injuries in 2021 and 2023 that ended his seasons. While he started practicing at the back end of the summer, Conklin has yet to make his season debut in 2024.

However, speaking to the media on Friday, head coach Kevin Stefanski stated that Conklin will make his debut in Philadelphia. Stefanski did not say, however, what role Conklin would be playing. With Jedrick Wills returning from injury and coming off of one of his best performances in recent years a week ago against the Washington Commanders, he is locked into the starting lineup.

However, right tackle Dawand Jones has been struggling, James Hudson III just undergoing shoulder surgery, and right guard Wyatt Teller is on injured reserve. Will Conklin start for the struggling Jones at right tackle? Could the Browns get creative at right guard, where rookie Zak Zinter is currently starting?

3 reasons for optimism for Raiders as they face the Browns Sunday

All may not be lost for the Raiders. There are reasons for hope this week.

All isn’t lost for the Raiders this week. They may have lost to a bad Panthers team in Week three, but they get another shot against another struggling team in Week four. Neither team should feel confident going into this one. And here are a few reasons for optimism if you’re the Raiders.

Both Browns starting tackles out

The Raiders may be without both their starting edge rushers – Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce – but the Browns are without their starting tackles – Jack Conklin and Jedrick Wills. Granted Crosby and Koonce are bigger losses for the Raiders than Conklin and Wills are to the Browns, but perhaps it evens the playing field a bit.

The Raiders have been looking for former seventh overall pick Tyree Wilson to start showing his draft potential and there’s no time like the present. He figures to get the bulk of the snaps at edge in his game, with the Janarius Robinson, Charles Snowden and former top pick K’Lavon Chaisson rotating in and splitting time at the other end spot.

Deshaun Watson is terrible

No amount of massaging can make Deshaun Watson’s stats look anything but terrible. He’s just plain bad. He has yet to crack 200 yards passing this season and the offense’s best game was when they scored 18 points without him throwing a touchdown. His season passer rating is a pathetic 71.4. And he hasn’t been making up for it on the ground either. He has 14 carries for 85 yards this season.

Then there’s this gem.

Oh, and did I mention he’s already been sacked 16 times this season?!

Zero interceptions

The Browns defense is one of just five teams in the NFL without an interception on the season. The Raiders do tend to have a way of ending such futility streaks, but it’s at least a sign of hope that they aren’t facing an opportunistic defense.

That doesn’t mean Gardner Minshew should just be throwing it all over the yard willy-nilly. The Browns still have one of the better cornerbacks in the league in Denzel Ward, even if Ward hasn’t gotten his hands on one yet.

Also see: 3 causes for concern for Raiders vs Browns

Raiders, Browns Week 4 final injury report: Both teams missing several key starters

The Raiders and Browns are both literally limping into their Week 4 matchup Sunday.

Injuries are hitting both the Raiders and the Browns hard this week. The two teams are quite literally limping into their Week four matchup in Las Vegas on Sunday. With both teams set to be without key starters.

https://twitter.com/LeviDamien/status/1839774633245192249

The Raiders have four players officially ruled OUT for the game — WR Davante Adams (hamstring), TE Michael Mayer (personal), LB Divine Deablo (oblique), and CB DeCamerion Richardson (hamstring).

DE Maxx Crosby (ankle), and T Thayer Munford (ankle/knee) are officially listed as Doubtful after head coach Antonio Pierce said in his morning press conference both would be OUT for the game.

Questionable for the Raiders are RB Ameer Abdullah (back) and LB Kana’i Mauga (calf).

The Browns also have four players listed as OUT — T Jack Conklin (hamstring), TE David Njoku (ankle), RB Pierre Strong (hamstring), and T Jedrick Wills (knee).

Questionable is LB Jordan Hicks (ribs/elbow).

DE Myles Garrett missed the first practice this week, but has since practice full and was removed from the injury report.

One starting offensive tackle won’t make his season debut after all

Maybe next week…

There was optimism that the Cleveland Browns would get offensive tackle Jack Conklin back on the field this week.

After James Hudson III has started the first two games of the season with varied results, it looked like the Browns were finally getting healthy. Conklin practiced all week, was given a questionable gameday designation, and looked like he was trending in the right direction to play.

Instead, however, Conklin has now been downgraded to out with a late hamstring injury.

There is a positive assumption about the other offensive tackle who has yet to play this season, however. The Browns listed Jedrick Wills as questionable entering the game as well. However, assigning their gameday elevations, offensive tackle Germain Ifedi was not one of them.

Ifedi had been elevated the past two weeks with both Conklin and Wills out. This may mean that Wills is set to make his season debut. Conklin, however, is back on the shelf.

Jack Conklin up for the challenge in first LT start in a decade

He hasn’t done it since his time at Michigan State, but Conklin is up for the challenge.

Offensive tackle Jack Conklin will be making his first NFL start at the left tackle position when the Cleveland Browns take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.

While starting left tackle Jedrick Wills returned to practice on Wednesday, it appears the Browns are going to give him at least a week to ramp up to get ready for live-action football after ending his season in Week 9 with a torn MCL that resulted in knee surgery. Wills told the media on Wednesday that he would not be starting against the Cowboys.

Conklin, too, saw his season end a year ago with a devastating knee injury in the first week of the season. He tore all of his ACL, MCL, and PCL in the Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, a game that Dawand Jones stepped in for him and never looked back.

Since returning to the practice field over a week ago, Conklin has been cross-training as both a right and left tackle. Here is what Conklin had to say on his cross-training process (via The OBR’s Fred Greetham):

“It just helps the team, and I want to be able to help the team any way I can… It’s a fun thing to have that challenge to learn both.”

https://twitter.com/FredGreetham9/status/1831384675211997382

And with Wills’ declaration, that means it is go-time for Conklin opposite Jones against Micah Parsons, Demarcus Lawrence, and the Dallas defensive front. This, however, is not a position that Conklin is completely new to it even if he has not played left tackle at the NFL level.

Conklin was an All-American left tackle at Michigan State, a status that got him drafted tenth overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 NFL draft to begin with. Speaking on his experience playing left tackle, and what it is going to take to make the switch, Conklin added:

“You know, it’s different but I did it in college. It’s getting into the mentality mostly of just verbiage. Thought of everything one way and just flipping it in your head. So it’s a second more thought when I hear the play to think of the left-hand side instead of the right.”

https://twitter.com/FredGreetham9/status/1831385383910748573

How will Conklin look in his first game back from a severe knee injury almost one year ago to the date? How will he look in his first start at left tackle since 2015?

Much of the Browns’ success in their new-look offense may depend heavily on the answer to these two questions.

Browns’ plan at offensive tackle becomes clearer, more complicated

The Browns will be starting Jack Conklin at left tackle.

While left tackle Jedrick Wills has returned to the practice field for the Cleveland Browns as they prepare for the Dallas Cowboys, it has only made their tackle situation a little bit clearer.

Listed as the starting left tackle on the depth chart, Wills has not practiced all summer up until Wednesday. Head coach Kevin Stefanski left the door open for him to play against the Cowboys, stating, “Let’s get through today.” However, Wills himself has confirmed he will not be starting on Sunday afternoon as the Browns take on the Cowboys.

https://twitter.com/ceasterlingABJ/status/1831377928728256968

This, however, does not completely make the offensive tackle situation on Sunday clear. While Wills will not start, meaning Jack Conklin will start at left tackle with Dawand Jones at right tackle, he did not close the door on playing.

Could the Browns be open to a rotation on Sunday as they continue to figure out the best duo of tackles to play this season? This would be unusual for a team to do in the regular season and could disrupt any flow.

Regardless, Wills may still see snaps on Sunday against the Cowboys despite not getting the starting nod after missing all summer after a Week 9 knee surgery a year ago.

Jack Conklin preparing to take his first snaps at LT in nearly a decade

Conklin may take his first snap at left tackle in nearly a decade on Sunday

The Cleveland Browns are still without former first round pick Jedrick Wills as their season opener against the Dallas Cowboys approach, leaving Jack Conklin penciled in as the starter.

Conklin, who just returned from the Physically Unable to Perform list last week, has not played since he tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1 of the 2023 season. He spoke to the media and stated he is ready to do whatever it takes to help the Browns win.

An All-Ameican left tackle during his time at Michigan State, Conklin has not played the position since he was drafted in the first round by the Tennessee Titans in the 2016 NFL draft. He has not played left tackle since then, however.

While Wills is off of the PUP list, he has yet to return to practice. Conklin is taking all of the first-team reps at left tackle right now, with Dawand Jones starting at right tackle.

https://twitter.com/MaryKayCabot/status/1830629506404524358

We will have a better understanding of what his Week 1 status will be by the time Thursday rolls around. However, after missing all of training camp, Wills may need a ramp-up period. This puts his Week 1 status in serious jeopardy.

This means Conklin may just play his first snap at left tackle in nearly a decade on Sunday for the Browns.