Browns may have lost much more than just a football game to the Saints in Week 11
Things went from bad to worse for the Cleveland Browns following the bye week where they hoped to have fixed some things. The Browns came out of the bye week and fell to the now 4-7 Saints by a score of 35-14. Cleveland is now 2-8 on the season and trending toward being a lock […]
Things went from bad to worse for the Cleveland Browns following the bye week where they hoped to have fixed some things. The Browns came out of the bye week and fell to the now 4-7 Saints by a score of 35-14. Cleveland is now 2-8 on the season and trending toward being a lock for a top-five selection.
Disaster struck the Browns just before halftime when offensive tackle Dawand Jones went down with what appeared to be a lower leg/ankle injury. It was a bit of friendly fire because the injury was initiated by right guard Wyatt Teller rolling up on Jones. The second-year tackle had his leg put into an air cast and was carted off the field.
Following the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski revealed that Jones has a fractured ankle and that he would be out for the season.
Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. was already out with a knee injury, so the Browns went to veteran tackle Germain Ifedi to fill in for Jones.
The matchup with the Saints was the fourth straight start for Jones at left tackle. Cleveland had decided that he could potentially be the guy of the future and went away from Wills being the starter there. Coming into the game, Jones had not given up a sack in the previous three games at left tackle and just six total pressures.
It seemed as if Jones was settling in at left tackle as a pass blocker, though he needs to continue to improve as a run blocker. The Ohio State product has started 17 of the 21 games he’s played in with the browns. Last season, Jones had his rookie year cut short after 11 games because of a knee injury.
Cleveland’s offense still found great success against the Saints. Quarterback Jameis Winston completed 30-of-46 passes for 395 yards and two touchdown. Nick Chubb had his best game of the season in his fourth game back after the gruesome knee injury he suffered last year. Chubb ran the ball 11 times for 50 yards.
With Jones set to miss extended time, it is a tough break for the promising young player. It would also force the Browns to go back to Wills at left tackle.
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He’s back and that is all that matters.
