Browns’ latest injury report throws more gas on the fire that a Day 2 rookie needs to be ready to start vs Jaguars
The Cleveland Browns have some uncertainly along the offensive line with their Week 1 game vs the Jaguars approaching. A veteran battling an injury could have the door open for a rookie to start.
The Cleveland Browns are just days away from opening their 2026 NFL season with a road matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
For Cleveland, the opener marks quarterback Deshaun Watson’s first start in nearly two years following the Achilles injury he suffered in Week 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024. The Browns enter Week 1 about as healthy as they could ask to be, with one notable exception on the offensive line creating a question mark ahead of Sunday.
Teven Jenkins’ back injury might throw a rookie in the fire
Browns coach Todd Monken said midweek that he expects Teven Jenkins to be Cleveland’s right guard for the opener. However, Jenkins exited practice on Wednesday with a back injury and was officially listed as limited. The setback comes after Jenkins had already been battling a minor injury over the last couple of weeks, which opened the door for rookie third-round pick Austin Barber to potentially earn the start.
Barber was drafted by the Browns as an offensive tackle out of Florida in the third round, where he played left tackle, but he has the ability to play guard at the NFL level. He showed exactly that during the preseason. If Cleveland needs him to step in on Sunday for his first NFL game, that door is now open.
Jenkins’ availability the rest of the week will be telling. Either way, Barber is going to have to be ready to go. Jenkins has struggled with injuries over the course of his career, and it would be foolish to expect him to make it through a full 17-game season without missing time for a second-straight season. There’s a chance Barber plays on Sunday, but if not, he has to be prepared whenever his name is called.
The only major blow to the Browns’ roster heading into the season came during the preseason when defensive end Alex Wright suffered an Achilles injury. That remains Cleveland’s lone significant loss as the regular season approaches.
Other injuries to monitor for the Browns’ Week 1 game
Beyond the right guard situation, center Parker Brailsford was limited on Wednesday with a thumb injury, and defensive tackle Maliek Collins was limited with a quad injury. The good news is that linebacker Carson Schwesinger was a full participant despite a shoulder injury that kept him on the shelf during the preseason. The Browns’ stud linebacker playing in Week 1 is a must, and he’s clearly on track ahead of game day.
When it comes to the injury report, all eyes are going to be on that right guard spot and whether Jenkins exiting practice and heading into the building with trainers on Wednesday ends up meaning anything substantial.
