And that problem is the left tackle position. It started at the backup left tackle position, now it’s the starter and the backups. After the game against the Vikings, Noah Weiskopf http://@BrownsWithNoah reported: “#Browns offensive tackle injury updates: – T Hakeem Adeniji will miss some time with a knee injury. – T Jedrick Wills won’t practice this week but continues to rehab. – T Germain Ifedi is okay following hand injury – T James Hudson III is out this week with an ankle injury should be back soon.” He then updated his report later in the day, “Adeniji avoided a serious knee injury upon further testing this morning, per a league source. He’ll miss some time but will be okay.” This is a problem that needs to be addressed if quarterback Deshaun Watson is going to play in the last preseason game against the Seahawks.
Last year this position was a black hole. Guys no one had heard of were starting for a playoff team. These below average players benefited from Joe Flacco, a veteran QB with a quick release. However, Flacco had a bad habit of throwing touchdown passes to the other team. Now, the Browns are less than three weeks away from their season opener against the Cowboys with both starting tackles still on the PUP list and I’m not sure I want Watson to play in the last preseason game.
There’s something amiss with the Browns and Jedrick Wills. He originally was hurt during the 27-0 win over the Cardinals and was placed on IR on November 7, with the designation he could return. Then on December 12, it was announced he had surgery and was done for the season. It took a month to determine he had to have surgery. Really? During minicamp, backup right tackle Dawand Jones told reporters he would be ready for training camp and Wills and Conklin were right behind him in rehab. Conklin further confused the situation, by reporting on his Instagram account he would be ready for training camp. Something doesn’t seem right.
What further confuses this mess is the Browns front office is seldom caught off guard. Center Luke Wypler is injured in the first preseason game and by Monday the team had traded for former Brown Nick Harris, and he was talking to the local media at training camp. The front office thought they had this problem covered by signing Adeniji and Ifedi, two veteran swing tackles. When practices begin for preseason game number three, I’m sure the Cleveland media will ask head coach Kevin Stefanski for comments on the situation and I’m sure he’ll respond with “we’re working through the problems, but injuries are a part of the game. Any roster moves will have to be addressed by GM Andrew Berry.”
I’m not one to panic and I’m not panicking now, but something just doesn’t feel right. Kind of like all those false trade rumors about Brandon Aiyuk. It just doesn’t feel right between Wills and the Browns. Hopefully there’ll be more clarity the beginning of this week. Frankly I’d rather be talking about Nick Chubb’s rehab progress. Stay safe and Go Browns.