BEREA, Ohio — In seven games to start the 2024 season, the 1-6 Browns have used six different starting offensive linemen combinations.
With starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) ruled out, Sunday against the Ravens will mark the seventh different starting lineup the Browns have used, as well as their third starting left tackle.
The most-likely next man up? Dawand Jones.
While coach Kevin Stefanski remained coy on Friday saying Jones is an “option,” with Wills out, Jones is the most likely option considering the Browns’ other swing tackle, James Hudson III, who started the first two games of the year on the left side, is on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Jones also certainly sounded the part of someone prepared for this opportunity.
“I feel good,” he said. “Had good preparation all week going against Myles (Garrett). He gave me great looks, I could say for sure. But getting better at practice, learning the reps and just watching other people on film was the main thing. We watched a couple of good left tackles like (Tristan) Wirfs, I watched (Jordan) Mailata. Just people in the past that switched over and played left and so I just tried to put that into my game.”
While it‘s an opportunity coming via injury to Wills, this is an important opportunity for Jones, the Browns’ 2023 fourth-round pick nevertheless.
Jones started the first five games of the season at right tackle, before All-Pro Jack Conklin returned after undergoing a major knee reconstruction last year and then suffering a hamstring injury. Jones, who underwent MCL surgery in December like Wills, previously told cleveland.com he’d love to play left tackle here and potentially follow in the footsteps of Hall of Famer Joe Thomas.
He’s not looking too far ahead when it comes to this game on Sunday, however.
“I’m no Joe Thomas,” Jones said with a laugh on Friday. “I’m going to say that now. Like I said, I’m going to play to the best of my ability and definitely like you said, it’s my chance to go prove what I could do tackle.”
There‘s also just the Browns’ long-term outlook at left tackle.
Wills has started four of the past five games at left tackle but has aggravated his knee a couple of times, including Sunday against the Bengals. It’s been an uneven return for him, and against the Bengals, he gave up two sacks and a team-high five pressures, but stuck it out to the end.
In the final year of his contract (the fifth-year option), Wills is currently ranked 54th among offensive tackles with a 52.7 grade, according to Pro Football Focus. If the Browns don’t extend him, Jones is, in theory, a possible option on the left side.
Jones transformed into a regular starter for the Browns last year once Conklin was injured in Week 1.
All 1,047 of his offensive snaps have come on the right side of the line in his pro career.
However, at Ohio State, the 6-foot-8, 374-pound Jones appeared in three games at left tackle for the Buckeyes in 2020, including a start against Michigan State. As a true freshman in 2019, all 90 of Jones’ snaps that year came at left tackle.
He believes the transition back to the left side is certainly possible given his past experience.
“I had to actually go watch that (2020 Michigan State) game just so I could kind of remember the steps to take and just what it’s like my body just being switched,” Jones said. “I started at left in my career at Ohio State so it’s kinda not nothing, you know what I mean? But it’s like going back to my old roots. So it’s definitely a tough transition, but it’s something to manage.”
The 23 year old is hopeful that past experience translates against the formidable Ravens’ defensive front.
There won’t be one set edge rusher that Jones would have to face on the left side, but linebacker Kyle Van Noy is fourth in the league with 7.0 sacks. Odafe Oweh has 4.5 sacks.
There’s maybe been no better prep for Jones than to spend this week against practice lining up opposite of Garrett.
“It’s been good for me,” Jones said. “Best pass rusher in the league, so I can only get better. I feel like I did that through the week. Like I said, I watched film on other tackles and how they set. I just try to use that into my game.”
Garrett said he wanted to give Jones the best possible looks, knowing what a tough front the Ravens have.
“He’s going to have a challenge with some of the guys over there and I want to give him a look of not only what I can do, but maybe things he might face when he gets out there and gets those looks,” Garrett said. “So just prepare him as much as I can, and also get a look from him because he’s a great look for some of the bigger guys they have over there.”
Jones is also looking forward to blocking for Jameis Winston, who takes over at starting QB after Deshaun Watson’s season-ending Achilles injury.
When Winston was starring at Florida State a decade ago, where he went on to win the Heisman Trophy, Jones was turned into a fan.
“He’s a great leader,” Jones said. “I watched him growing up, and so it was definitely cool to finally block for him and stuff like that. I was a really big Florida State fan, so it definitely is cool. I’ll read quotes to him, just so you know, I recognize his game. I respect him.”
And Jones also respect this opportunity that’s ahead of him.
He had a lot thrown at him during his first season, but learned, under former offensive line coach Bill Callahan to be prepared for anything — that included last week, when he didn’t start against the Bengals (after not playing against the Eagles the week prior), but finished with 27 snaps after Conklin had to exit early.
“Just like for me, the Bengals game, I was the next man up,” Jones said. “I got hurt, James next man up. We had Geron (Christian) last year, he’s the next man up there. Just the same thing transitions over this year. It may not be the best, it may not be pretty or cute, but we’re definitely giving our best effort there.”