Browns OL Dealt Multiple Blows Before Steelers Game

The Browns offensive line is hurting ahead of their matchup against the Steelers on Sunday. After losing quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season, the attention turned to the rest of the Browns roster, which is banged up. But most notably, the offensive line is where they are having issues. They have already lost starters Jedrck Wills and Jack Conklin at tackle to injured reserve. But now, standout rookie Dawand Jones and top guard Wyatt Teller are injured, too.

Wills, Cleveland’s starting left tackle was placed on the injured reserve list on Monday by the Browns with an MCL sprain. The Browns have already been playing without starting right tackle Jack Conklin, who was lost for the season to a knee injury in the season opener. Now, James Hudson will likely be called into service on the left side. A fourth-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2021, Hudson has seven career starts. Two of them have come against the Steelers. He allowed one sack and three hurries against Pittsburgh in January and three sacks, one quarterback hit and one hurry versus the Steelers in 2021.

But Jones has a knee issue that forced him to miss the team’s game against the Ravens. He did not practice on Wednesday. Teller is dealing with an ankle injury. They have guard Michael Dunn, opening his 21-day window to return from injured reserve, and he could be in line for a start.

Veteran Geron Christian started last week in the place of Jones, with Hudson bookending the other side. The Steelers’ pass rushers are going to look at the matchup favorably. Hudson allowed five pressures against the Ravens, while Christian allowed three pressures. Christian also allowed a sack, but to their credit, they fared admirably against a Ravens front with plenty of exotic looks and blitzes up front.