Tag: Jack Conklin

Browns Podcast: Breaking down the offensive tackle room and more

There are some questions surrounding the tackle group

Training camp for the 2024 Cleveland Browns season is just a few weeks away, with rookies reporting on July 22nd at Veterans on the 23rd.

Last week, some videos were posted to social media showing Nick Chubb completing stability drills on his injured knee. That is significant, and realistically, Chubb could return earlier than previously thought.

Last year, the depth at offensive tackle was tested. The team started players off the street as their top three tackles suffered season-ending injuries. Jedrick Wills Jr. is in a contract year, and the team still isn’t sure if he is the answer with inconsistent play throughout his career so far.

Jack Conklin has battled back-to-back season-ending injuries, and promising young right tackle Dawand Jones will push to start after a great rookie season. You can hear a complete breakdown of the offensive tackle group by watching our latest episode by clicking here.

PFF names Jack Conklin as the Browns 2024 bounce-back candidate

Will the veteran right tackle bounce back in 2024?

The last two seasons for Cleveland Browns right tackle Jack Conklin have not ended the way he wanted: suffering two serious injuries. After working hard to rehab for 2023, his season ended in Week 1 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Conklin is currently working hard to prepare for 2024, with training camp just around the corner.

In a recent article from PFF, they named Jack Conklin as Cleveland’s bounce-back candidate this year.

“The Browns reached the AFC wild-card game despite one of their better offensive players leaving the season opener with a knee injury and never returning.

Admittedly, Conklin wasn’t amazing in 2022, but he was arguably the NFL’s best right tackle from 2019 to 2021, when he allowed just nine sacks on 2,549 snaps — a ridiculous .35% sack rate. If the 29-year-old can stay healthy and look more like his prior form, the Browns’ offense could find an even better rhythm, a scary proposition for defenses.”

The Browns paid Conklin for a reason, and Andrew Berry extended him because of his performance on the field. But after back-to-back lower body injuries, you have to wonder how long it’ll take him to get back and what he looks like when he does. Luckily for the Browns, they have Dawand Jones and can slowly bring Conklin along.

Browns will be without their top three offensive tackles vs. Ravens

The depth at tackle will really be tested on Sunday

Already without right tackle Jack Conklin for the rest of the season, Cleveland placed left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. on IR this week. Rookie Dawand Jones, who had been playing well at right tackle, has now been ruled out for Sunday’s showdown against the Ravens.

The Brownso are going against one of the best defenses and pass rushes in Baltimore, needing a big win and hopefully stealing it on the road. That leaves James Hudson III and multiple other players who have been added via practice squads, with not many high-end players left to step in.

Hudson struggled mightily in camp, as well as the preseason, and the idea of him starting at left tackle doesn’t elicit much confidence. But an idea tossed out on social media by the OBR’s Andrew Spayde makes a ton of sense to me.

He suggested that Cleveland could move left guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle, put rookie Luke Wypler at left guard, and have Hudson at right tackle. Bitonio has made it clear in the past that he didn’t want a permanent move to left tackle but has played a couple of games as a left tackle when the team was in a bind – something he could do again.

Luke Wypler played decent at left guard in the preseason and when Hudson III played well in meaningful games it was at right tackle. Bitonio played two games at left tackle in 2021 and received overall grades of 91.5 and 82.6 from PFF, so this could be the best option for the Browns.

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Browns to face Ravens pass rush without their top 3 offensive tackles in Week 10

The Cleveland Browns will be without offensive tackles Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills, and Dawand Jones in Week 10 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens

The Browns are headed to M&T Bank Stadium for a massive Week 10 matchup against the Ravens, and Cleveland will be without their top three offensive tackles.

Cleveland was already without Wills Jr., their starting left tackle, for at least four weeks with an MCL sprain. Still, things became urgent when starting right tackle Dawand Jones sat out a second consecutive practice with a knee and shoulder injury.

James Hudson III will move to the right side with Jones out, and the only other two healthy tackles on the active roster are Geron Christian and Leroy Watson IV – two practice squad call-ups. Alex Leatherwood and Justin Murray are available off the practice squad if needed.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski even added that left guard Joel Bitonio could switch to left tackle if needed – Bitonio played 123 snaps at left tackle in 2021 when Wills had COVID-19.

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Browns make flurry of roster moves as OT Jack Conklin goes on IR

With Jack Conklin officially on Injured Reserve, the Browns made a flurry of moves to adjust their roster.

Despite their dominant win against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Week 1 was not all good news for the Cleveland Browns. Veteran offensive tackle Jack Conklin suffered another season-ending injury, this time tearing both his ACL and MCL after just signing a contract extension last season. He has officially been placed on Injured Reserve as the Browns have signed fan favorite offensive guard Michael Dunn off of the practice squad to fill his roster spot on the 53-man roster.

That was not the only move the Browns made, however, as they then had Dunn’s practice squad spot to fill. They then made an additional practice squad move as well, so they had to clear another spot on the reserves. It was a busy day in Berea.

Here are all of the moves the Browns made to their roster today, as it was a domino effect after they ended Conklin’s season and placed him on IR.

PFF’s 10 highest-graded Browns’ offensive players vs Bengals

Which offensive players stood out the most to PFF?

In the poor conditions, the offense of the Cleveland Browns was a bit sloppy from time to time against the Bengals on Sunday. Nick Chubb continued to be mister consistent and reliable as he rushed for over 100 yards as the most consistent source of offense. Quarterback Deshaun Watson had some bad throws early in the game but used his legs to make up for it.

The interior of the offensive line was pretty consistent and impressive as both guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller played really well. Before his injury, Jack Conklin was playing pretty well though Jedrick Wills struggled in both facets of the game.

Dawand Jones came in and had some nice snaps in his pass protection though his run blocking wasn’t very good at all which is surprising for a guy of his size. Let’s take a look at the ten best offensive players for the Browns on Sunday according to PFF.

5 Takeaways from the Browns’ postgame press conference vs. Bengals

What stood out from the postgame pressers after the Browns beat the Bengals?

There were nothing but smiles in the press conferences after the beatdown of the Cincinnati Bengals by the Cleveland Browns. The rather stoic group showed their pleasure in shutting down their in-state rival. Head coach Kevin Stefanski, quarterback Deshaun Watson, and defensive end Myles Garrett took to the podium after the game. The rest of the team was able to speak to the media in the locker room. Overall, the mood was joyful, but more than a few members of the team were already looking towards Pittsburgh.

The Browns talked about a myriad of topics in their post-game pressers. The players on the team are very insightful. They surprised me when discussing the granular aspects of inclement weather. It was very refreshing to hear their thoughts on the game. Here are my top five takeaways from the Cleveland Browns’ post-game press conferences.

As always, all quotes are sourced from the transcripts provided by the team.

Browns Injury Update: OT Jack Conklin out for season with torn ACL and MCL

The Dawand Jones era gets an early start.

The Cleveland Browns have lost their starting right tackle for the rest of the 2023 season. Two-time All-Pro right tackle Jack Conklin got rolled over by a Cincinnati Bengals defender in Sunday’s blowout win as he had to be carted off the field. This is the second season-ending knee injury Conklin has suffered in three years.

The Browns will now turn to rookie fourth rounder Dawand Jones to take over as the starting right tackle for the rest of the way out. Jones entered Sunday’s game and went the whole game without being highlighted by the broadcast, which is a great thing for an offensive lineman. This week, however, he will have the task of taking on former Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt.

Expect Conklin to seriously contemplate retirement at this point in his career. He opened up that he was close to hanging up his cleats two years ago after his first season-ending lower-body injury, and this might be the time Conklin finally leaps.

If this is it for Conklin’s NFL career, he will go down as a two-time All-Pro (once with the Tennessee Titans and once with the Browns).

Jack Conklin reportedly suffers season ending knee injury

Jack Conklin’s 2023 season may be over:

Jack Conklin was an integral part of the Cleveland Browns offensive line heading into the 2023 season. The former first-round pick out of Michigan State has been a quality offensive tackle for both the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns in his NFL career.

In the Brown’s Week 1 game against the Bengals, it appears Conklin may have suffered a knee injury that could jeopardize his 2023 season.

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Browns OT Jack Conklin carted off with knee injury vs. Bengals

Jack Conklin leaves the Browns-Bengals game early with a lower leg injury.

Cleveland Browns starting right tackle Jack Conklin left the matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals during the second quarter. The former All-Pro injured his lower leg after a Bengals defensive player rolled into him. Trainers quickly ran out to assess him before carting him off the field.

Rookie fourth round pick Dawand Jones is now starting at right tackle after the departure of Conklin. Jones had a stellar tenure at Ohio State and was one of the very best rookies in the preseason as well. He will now have a ton on his plate right away after the injury to the former All-Pro right tackle.

Conklin has been unlucky staying healthy during his tenure with the Browns. Conklin has been ruled out for the game and it looks like his season may very well be over after another injury on his tab.

The Browns just signed Conklin to a contract extension last season.