Offensive tackle problems are even worse after the Vikings game

CLEVELAND – The Browns already had problems at the offensive tackle position.

Then the 27-12 loss of both teams to the Minnesota Vikings in the second preseason game made things even worse.

The three players the Browns recently used on the first team offensive line in training camp were injured against the Vikings, while Jedrick Wills Jr. and Jack Conklin remain sidelined after undergoing knee surgeries last year.

They are …

• James Hudson III (ankle injury, second quarter)

• Hakeem Adeniji (knee injury, third quarter)

• Germain Ifedi (hand injury, third quarter)

None of those tackles returned to the game. And Adeniji left Cleveland Browns Stadium on crutches with a splint on his right leg.

“These are all things we're going to test,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said during his postgame press conference about the injuries, without giving any further information.

When asked by Stefanski whether he expected Wills or Conklin to be back in time for the season opener on September 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, the coach was noncommittal.

Right now, right tackle Dawand Jones is the only Browns offensive tackle who is well positioned in the starting lineup.

On Saturday, Jones and other Browns starters sat out.

And the Browns used undrafted rookie Lorenzo Thompson as left tackle and Roy Mbaeteka as right tackle after Hudson, Adeniji and Ifedi were out.

Browns vs Vikings: Cleveland loses to Minnesota in NFL preparation; injuries hit hard

This position group is just a mess. In case you didn't know, the Cowboys have elite pass rusher Micah Parsons, so sound the alarm.

If the Browns learned anything from their joint practices with the Vikings on Wednesday and Thursday, it's that the offensive line's problems are real and concerning.

It's hard to imagine starting quarterback Deshaun Watson staying healthy unless the tackle situation is resolved either by the return of Wills or Conklin or by a trade, which general manager Andrew Berry should be considering by now.

Unless, unless, unless…it's time to dust off the old “Plan Z” by promoting six-time Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle, where he played and excelled amid the COVID-19 chaos.

It wouldn't be ideal for Bitonio or the Browns, but you know what they say about desperate times.

On Thursday, Bitonio was asked about the possibility of working as a left tackle again.

“I think it's Plan Double-Z, but you never know,” he said.

Further insights from the second warm-up game…

DTR vs Tyler Huntley in warm-up game No. 2

If Dorian Thompson-Robinson had gone into Saturday's preseason game with the prospect of the third quarterback job, he should still be there since Tyler Huntley has done nothing to displace DTR.

Thompson-Robinson started and played the first half, followed by Huntley for the entire second half.

Thompson-Robinson completed 13 of 17 passes (76.5%) for 126 yards, with no touchdown passes and one interception. His passer rating was 72.2. He suffered one sack.

Huntley completed 14 of 20 passes (70%) for 135 yards, no touchdown passes and two interceptions. His passer rating was 49. He ran four times for 19 yards and suffered two sacks.

With the three interceptions, the Browns lost the battle for possession 3-0. Huntley's first interception proved costly, as Adeniji was injured while helping Huntley force cornerback Dwight McGlothern off the field on a 90-yard return.

“Some were good, some were bad, and there's a constant desire from our quarterbacks to play consistently,” Stefanski said. “I think there were some really good moments and then some things that you can definitely learn from with those two players.”

The positive about Thompson-Robinson is that he led the Browns to an eight-play, 69-yard touchdown drive on their first possession.

On fourth-and-2 at Minnesota's 44-yard line, DTR managed a 15-yard gain on a 28-yard pass interference penalty committed by Vikings safety Bobby McCain while covering fullback Giovanni Ricci in the end zone, allowing running back D'Onta Foreman to score a 1-yard rushing TD.

On a negative note, DTR threw behind Thrash later in the game, the ball deflected off Thrash, and Vikings safety Lewis Cine intercepted it with 20 seconds left in the second quarter.

DTR admitted he threw “a bad ball.” Now he's determined to get back to work.

A serious hip injury suffered by Thompson-Robinson last season, combined with a poor performance as a fifth-round rookie, likely prompted the Browns to sign Huntley as a DTR hedge in the offseason, even if Berry wouldn't admit it publicly.

But DTR had a good training camp – certainly a better one than his performance on Saturday suggests.

“I'm here to win the game. I'm not here to win a job,” Thompson-Robinson said. “Like I said, I want to get some shots back today that I can watch on tape with coach on Monday. I'm going to expect a lot from him. Other than that, I'm here to win the game and I'm not too worried about the job.”

DTR has the right mindset and that could be one reason why he's still the favorite to replace Watson and No. 2 quarterback Jameis Winston. In a perfect world for the Browns, they could honestly say DTR won the No. 3 job and find a trade partner for Huntley.

Injury updates and notes for Denzel Ward, Amari Cooper, David Njoku and Dustin Hopkins of the Cleveland Browns

Stefanski commented on the injuries to important people as follows:

• Denzel Ward, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback for the Browns, remains in concussion protocol.

• Wide receiver Amari Cooper and tight end David Njoku are in “rehab” after sustaining unspecified injuries during a joint practice on Thursday.

• Kicker Dustin Hopkins is working through an unspecified injury but is expected to play in Week 1.

More news about the Cleveland Browns: D'Onta Foreman makes his debut with the Browns 16 days after his horrific injury and his first helicopter ride

The next chapter in the Browns' handling of the new NFL kickoff rule

Since Hopkins has a day off, Cade York took over the kicking duties in the preseason and most recently in training camp.

After the opening loss to the Green Bay Packers on August 10, Stefanski admitted he was disappointed when York had two touchbacks on kickoffs because he wanted the Browns to practice their coverage under the NFL's new kickoff rules.

This time, however, Stefanski said, York was instructed to kick two touchbacks against the Vikings. Perhaps injuries that hit the Browns hard played a role.

“We have a lot of work [during the joint practices],” Stefanski said. “I think this week we played kickoff and kickoff return both days, Wednesday and Thursday.”

If an NFL team can avoid injuries in the preseason, it's a win, regardless of the score. The Browns lost on Saturday because of injuries.

Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.

This article originally appeared in the Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns insights after loss to Minnesota Vikings