Tag: Jack Conklin

Jack Conklin did what to his knee?

The All-Pro reveals he did more than just tear his ACL last season

The Cleveland Browns and the rest of the NFL cut their rosters down to 53 players as some returned to practice and others to Injured Reserve. Cleveland was lucky enough to welcome back a handful of players including one of their most talented offensive tackles Jack Conklin.

The projected starting tackle returned to practice on Tuesday for the first time since September after revealing the true significance of his knee injury. Conklin revealed in a post-practice press conference on Tuesday that his knee injury was more serious than the public was aware of.

When starting right tackle in 2023, Conklin explained that he tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and meniscus when he was injured in the season opener. Conklin was initially reported to only suffer a torn ACL, but his revelation shows how committed he is to his rehab, career, and team. He now enters his fifth season with an opportunity to do something he has proven to be capable of: play at either tackle position.

Conklin entered the NFL with years of college experience at the left tackle position from his time at Michigan State. With the rosters being trimmed down to 53 players today, both Conklin and Jedrick Wills were cleared to practice. With the already existing presence of Dawand Jones at Conklins right tackle spot, the Browns will have questions to answer with the return of both tackles at the same time.

Jack Conklin workout video reveals contingency plan at LT

Could Conklin play a position he hasn’t played since his All-American days at Michigan State?

The Cleveland Browns are missing plenty of bodies in their offensive tackle room due to injuries, but the return of two-time All-Pro Jack Conklin might be on the horizon.

This week, Conklin was seen working out with trainers for the first time this summer, signaling a return to the field soon. His return may just have a bigger impact than initially thought as well.

In the video of his workout, Conklin can be seen kick-stepping as both a left tackle and a right tackle. This is a significant development for a player who has exclusively played right tackle at the NFL level and has not played left tackle since his days at Michigan State.

The Browns are preparing Conklin for one of two things: to be the swing tackle who they can plug in on either side of the offensive line, or to start at left tackle upon his return. With former first round pick and fifth-year starter Jedrick Wills still recovering from a season-ending injury, there is now uncertainty if he will be ready for Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys as well.

Conklin needs to be ready to roll at left tackle one way or the other. But the larger question becomes: will Conklin start at left tackle even if Wills is healthy?

Browns inching closer to getting one offensive tackle back on the field

The two-time All-Pro may be nearing his return just in time.

As injuries continue to pile up along the offensive line for the Cleveland Browns, they are close to getting one back on the field as right tackle Jack Conklin went through a workout with the training staff for the first time this summer.

The Browns are being forced to give starting reps to Germain Ifedi at left tackle this week due to the multitude of injuries on their depth chart at the offensive tackle position. Getting Conklin back would be a huge relief before we get to Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Starting left tackle Jedrick Wills has yet to return to practice after a Week 9 injury a year ago, so getting a savvy veteran who is also a two-time All-Pro back gives the Browns at least some insurance moving forward. If Wills is healthy, Conklin would likely become the swing tackle behind Dawand Jones and the former 10th overall pick, but given the need to win now and the insurance needed in the tackle room, the Browns would be highly unlikely to move him.

However, step one is getting back on the field and off the PUP list. Conklin is one step closer to doing that.

Jack Conklin will be the world’s most expensive swing tackle and that’s okay

He’s not going anywhere.

Trading Jack Conklin is not an option for the Cleveland Browns.

That should have been apparent after the team trotted out James Hudson III and Geron Christian as their starting bookends deep into the season and into the playoffs. And it should be even more apparent now after three offensive tackles all suffered injuries in the second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Browns do not have healthy offensive tackles, and Conklin and starting left tackle Jedrick Wills fall into that category as well. However, the indications out of Berea are that both players are close to returning to the practice field.

Conklin has long been a popular name to throw around in trade talks, predominantly due to the money he is owed this season and into the future, and due to the emergence of Dawand Jones after he suffered another season-ending knee injury in the Week 1 win over the Cincinnati Bengals a year ago.

Set for a cap number of $10.56 million in 2024, that is a healthy amount to pay

His starting job is likely gone, and so is he after this season (the Browns can save over $16 million in cap space with just over $2 million in dead cap to move on) unless he steps in, plays at the top of his game again, and stays healthy. After all, Wills is a free agent after the season.

However, the Browns have a window now.

And while the same thing could happen again this season that happened last, where all three of their top tackles suffered season-ending knee injuries, that amount of injury unluck seems likely to progress back to the mean.

While Hudson III has filled in as the swing tackle for the Browns over the last three seasons, his play on the field has proven to be a liability. And a massive one. The Browns cannot afford for Hudson III to be their next man up any longer, especially not in a crucial 2024 season for quarterback Deshaun Watson and the offense.

He’s a $10.5 million swing tackle in 2024, but a necessary player for the Browns to keep on their roster.

Browns overtake Eagles for NFL lead in players earning over $10M per year

Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns are tied with 13 players earning over $10M per year

Championship teams are built through the draft and shrewd free-agent acquisitions, and in this new day of the NFL, huge salaries are a prerequisite for overall franchise success.

Before Wednesday morning, Philadelphia and Cleveland led the NFL with 12 players earning $10+ million per season.  The Browns now have the top spot after the team agreed to a three-year extension with linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, worth up to $39 million, including a $25 million guarantee.

Browns

– Deshaun Watson: $46M
– Myles Garrett: $25M
– Denzel Ward: $20.1M
– Amari Cooper: $20M
– Jerry Jeudy: $17.5M
– Joel Bitonio: $16M
– Jack Conklin: $15M
– Dalvin Tomlinson: $14.25M
– Wyatt Teller: $14.2M
– David Njoku: $13.687M
– Grant Delpit: $12M
– Za’Darius Smith: $11.5M
– Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah: $13M (max)

Eagles

– Jalen Hurts: $52M
– Saquon Barkley: $12M.5
– A.J. Brown: $32M
– DeVonta Smith: $25M
– Dallas Goedert: $14.5M
– Jordan Mailata: $22M
– Landon Dickerson: $21M
– Lane Johnson: $20M
– Bryce Huff: $17M
– Josh Sweat: $10M
– Darius Slay: $13M
– James Bradberry: $12.5

The Browns have the NFL’s second-highest payroll at $244,730,743, behind the Atlanta Falcons, who are shelling out a league-high $249,538,227 in cap space.

Philadelphia is 30th in the league, paying out $182,873,638 in total cap space this season.

Jack Conklin’s Madden 25 rating released

Jack Conklin has a pretty good rating in Madden 25

The release of the flagship NFL video game Madden 25 is being anticipated by fans all over the country, with the excitement building for another step closer towards action on the field resumes. A part of the anticipation is the release of how players are rated on Madden.

One former fan favorite Spartan, Jack Conklin, will be playing his ninth season in the league, along with his fourth with the Cleveland Browns. He has been rated as an 80 overall and the Browns highest rated tackle in the video game.

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner

Browns O-line ranks highly in the latest rankings by Establish the Run

The Cleveland Browns offensive line was ranked inside the top 3 by Brandon Thorn for Establish the Run heading into the 2024 NFL season

The offensive line of the Cleveland Browns continues to receive high praise heading into the NFL season. Brandon Thorn of Trench Warfare ranked all 32 offensive line units ahead of the season for Establish the Run. 

Thorn believes the Browns have the third-best offensive line in football. Thorn acknowledges that the loss of Bill Callahan may negatively affect the team, but he believes that the consistency on the offensive line will compensate for Callahan’s loss.

New offensive line coach Andy Dickerson is a good coach. He interviewed for the offensive coordinator job before he was hired as the line coach. Dickerson teaches the independent hand-striking technique that former Browns coaches Scott Peters and Callahan created. Dickerson is a competent coach who will do a good job replacing Callahan.

Thorn has Jack Conklin as the projected right tackle going into the season. The former All-Pro tackle has been battling through injuries over the last few years that have limited his playing time. Conklin started training camp on the PUP list. Starting left tackle, Jed Wills is also listed on the PUP list as he recovers from his torn MCL last year.

The Browns found an excellent replacement for Conklin in Dawand Jones. Jones was fantastic in his rookie year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Both tackles look healthy before the start of the season and their battle to start will be an exciting showdown.

The Browns offensive line will guide the team to success by providing consistency to an offense that relies on variance.

Pro Football Focus names the top MSU player in ‘PFF Era’

Can you name the top Michigan State player during the Pro Football Focus era?

Can you name who’s the best recent Michigan State football player by Pro Football Focus (PFF) standards?

PFF has released their list of highest-graded players from the Big Ten during the “PFF era” and the top Spartan may surprise you. Former Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin was the highest-graded Spartan of all-time.

Conklin — a former walk-on — starred for the Spartans from 2012 to 2015, becoming one of the country’s best offensive linemen. He was eventually drafted by the Tennessee Titans with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Check out the complete rankings list from PFF below:

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Veteran tackle Jack Conklin should be the Browns swing tackle in 2024

The veteran should be the swing tackle this year

It has been a rough couple of years for former All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin, who has suffered two straight season-ending injuries with the Cleveland Browns. He took to social media this week to announce his return and thanked his wife for helping him rehab the injuries.

Conklin will have a chance to prove he is healthy come training camp in a few weeks. If he is ready for the season, the team should make him the swing tackle. It’s kind of crazy to suggest that about a former All-Pro player who will only be 30 when the season starts, but easing him back into things might be the way to go.

Though it has been a long time, Conklin was a standout left tackle in college, so he has the experience to back up both sides. You want to avoid stunting the growth of Dawand Jones by sitting him after a strong rookie campaign, which could play into the decision.

Jones also brings injury concerns to the table, and Jedrick Wills Jr. has been a roller coaster on the left side. If healthy, Conklin would be one of the best swing tackles and would provide great depth on both sides if someone gets hurt or struggles.

Browns RT Jack Conklin announces his return as training camp nears

The two-time All-Pro is back

After suffering another season-ending injury in Week 1 of the 2023 season, Cleveland Browns right tackle Jack Conklin is back.

Our source? Conklin himself.

The veteran two-time All-Pro took to Instagram to announce his return to the football field after suffering a torn ACL a year ago. He even stayed on the Batman motif that running back Nick Chubb also tends to opt for!

Taking to his Instagram account, Conklin had this to say:

“Nothing is easy after an injury especially multiple. I could never have made it thru with out my wife [Caitlyn Conklin] she is my rock. I talked to [Nick Chubb] and there may be one dark knight but the first person to rise from the pit was Bane! #Imback“

https://www.instagram.com/jack_conklin78/p/C80OZYNMvT3/?hl=en

The Browns have a bit of a problem at the offensive tackle position as well, with three starting guys all under contract. However, each of the three guys ended their seasons with season-ending injuries that resulted in knee surgery, so having depth is never bad.

Just look at the offensive tackles they were trotting onto the field at the end of the season.

For now, expect Conklin to come off the bench with Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones starting at left and right tackle respectively. However, having a two-time All-Pro as a depth piece can only come in handy.