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Browns: Injury concerns for left tackle from day to day

The Browns were already having a problem with their left tackle at sunrise on Saturday, and by the time the sun set that evening, around the same time they finished their second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, the problem had become a disaster.

Expected starter Jedrick Wills Jr. continues to recover from a medial ligament injury he suffered last November, but has shown no visible signs of when he will return to the field. However, the 27-12 loss to the Vikings eliminated the top three candidates behind Wills: James Hudson III (ankle), Germain Ifedi (hand) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee).

At the end of the game, Lorenzo Thompson was playing left tackle. Many outsiders wondered what disaster was next for the Browns at that position, as Saturday was their last preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks.

“We're just working,” Stefanski said during a Zoom call Sunday of outside impressions involving the tackle position. “I understand what you're saying and I can understand how that can look, but we feel really good about the guys we have in this building. We've got guys working hard to get back and we're just going to take it day by day.”

Stefanski at least had some slightly positive news on the injured tackles. He said Hudson would not play this week against the Seahawks, but “he'll be back soon.”

Ifedi, who started at left tackle against the Vikings, “should be good to go.” The former Seahawks first-round pick from 2016 got more work at left tackle last week during joint practices with Minnesota and is expected to start Saturday against his former team.

What will keep us busy for a long time is Adeniji's knee injury. Stefanski said the tackle will be “out of action for a while.”

Adeniji, who started for the Cincinnati Bengals in those 2021 and 2022 playoff runs, sustained the injury while attempting to tackle Minnesota's Dwight McGlotheran after he intercepted a pass from quarterback Tyler Huntley.

“I want to say that his effort on that play was incredible, he was running downfield,” Stefanski said of Adeniji. “Those are things I think you can teach your players in those moments. So his effort was incredible. … But we'll get him back as soon as possible.”

The Browns will almost certainly make at least one, if not several, moves to improve position for this week's trip to Seattle. Making matters worse is the fact that Wills has yet to return to the field.

Stefanski continues to dodge questions about Wills' rehab, saying only, “He will not practice this week.” The Browns have until 4 p.m. on August 27 to make decisions about him and several other injured players, as well as the rest of the roster.

That means there will be more turnover at the tackle position this week, as at least someone will be brought in for depth. The only action the Browns had taken as of early Sunday afternoon was to release cornerback Vincent Gray from the injured list.

“I think we're working on all of those things, really at every position,” Stefanski said. “Obviously we mentioned that last night, nobody likes the injury part, but when it happens we have to do our due diligence and look around and things like that. But I certainly have confidence in the group we have.”

Using Deshaun Watson as quarterback against the Seattle Seahawks is “still the plan”

The real impact of the tackle situation will now influence Stefanski's decision regarding quarterback Deshaun Watson. So far, the coach said, there has been no official change to what the Browns will do with Watson in the final preseason game in Seattle.

“The plan is for him to play,” Stefanski said. “I'm always taking in information, so I'll make sure I talk to him this week and work through that. I won't get into who's playing and how much yet, but I'll definitely work through that in the next few days.”

Watson has not played in a game since his comeback with the Baltimore Ravens on November 12. Three days later, he was placed on the injured list due to a fractured glenoid that was repaired during surgery in Los Angeles on November 21, making it a season-ending injury.

There was only one day in training camp when Watson didn't throw. He showed flashes of his strengths in the two days of practice against the Vikings, but often struggled with protection issues and interceptions on other plays.

Gionvanni Ricci out for “a few weeks” due to knee injury

One of the lesser-known injuries the Browns suffered against the Vikings involved fullback/tight end Giovanni Ricci, who Stefanski said will be out for “a couple of weeks.” He was injured during a two-minute drill late in the first half after a 17-yard pass from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson moved the ball to the Vikings' 45-yard line.

Ricci was likely the No. 3 tight end behind David Njoku and Jordan Akins. His versatility and blocking were key, which is why the Browns played him fullback, a position where Stefanski said they had other potential candidates.

“They have fullbacks that can line up as tight ends,” Stefanski said, “They have tight ends that can line up as fullbacks. So there's a little bit of that, and we'll work through all of those things over the next few weeks.”

One such player could be Zaire Mitchell-Paden, who could potentially snag the third tight end spot. Stefanski said Mitchell-Paden was “fine” after walking off the field with a trainer near the end of Saturday's game.

Young LBs like Devin Bush and Mohmaoud Diabate take advantage of injuries

The Browns did not have all of their linebackers available because they were still at the Greenbrier for the first week of training camp. The two biggest injuries were veteran Jordan Hicks and fourth-year pro Tony Fields II, both of whom were out for weeks with undisclosed injuries.

This has opened the door for some young players to potentially secure spots, two in particular being former first-round pick Devin Bush and second-year pro Mohamoud Diabate.

“I think Mohamoud has had some really, really good moments in those games,” Stefanski said. “Not perfect, but things I know he can do better. I know (linebackers coach Jason Tarver) is going to work really hard with him to make him better, but he does a good job of running the defense, making plays and playing with great effort. And similarly with Devin, you know, he's got a new system, but he's settled in and learned a few different techniques and things like that. I think he's had some good moments in those games, too.”

Winston Reid was the linebacker with the most defensive snaps against the Vikings with 44 (76%). Diabate was tied for second with Caleb Johnson with 31 snaps each, or 53%.

Bush played 21 snaps (36%) against Minnesota.

Reach Chris Easterling at [email protected]. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

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