The Browns went into Saturday’s preseason game with starting tackles Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin still recovering from injuries that cut their 2023 seasons short. Several other offensive linemen were also hurt during the loss to the Vikings, but Cleveland is not currently looking to add extra depth.
Germain Ifedi sustained a hand injury on Saturday, though head coach Kevin Stefanski mentioned that it shouldn’t cause him to miss practice time. The situation is different for James Hudson and Hakeem Adeniji, who are dealing with ankle and knee injuries, respectively, and will be sidelined for a while. Stefanski noted that Adeniji would be out for “a little bit of time.” Meanwhile, Wills, who is rehabbing an MCL sprain, won’t practice this week as he remains on the active/PUP list.
“We feel really good about the people we have in this building,” Stefanski said regarding the offensive tackle situation (via the team’s website). “We have guys that are working hard to get back, and we’ll just deal with it day to day.”
Wills is under contract for 2024 through his fifth-year option, and a Browns restructure lowered his cap hit for this season. However, this move also set up Cleveland for an $11.81M dead cap charge in 2025 if Wills leaves in free agency, making his return to full health and first-team play crucial for both the team and the player. Conklin, on the other hand, has three years left on his deal, but no guaranteed salary beyond this season, making his performance upon return pivotal in determining his financial future.
Stefanski also confirmed that quarterback Deshaun Watson is still expected to play in the Browns’ preseason finale, marking his first game since Week 10 of the 2023 season as he continues to recover from a season-ending shoulder injury. It remains to be seen how healthy Cleveland’s offensive line will be for that game and, more importantly, when the regular season kicks off. Despite the multiple injury issues, no additional signings are expected at this time.
