October 15, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, United States; Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) hugs guard Wyatt Teller (77) as they celebrate the team’s victory against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
Cleveland was already without right tackle Jack Conklin for the rest of the season and placed left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. on IR this week. Rookie Dawand Jones, who had played well at right tackle, has now been ruled out for Sunday’s showdown against the Ravens.
The Brownsos are facing one of Baltimore’s best defenses and passing players and need a big win that they can hopefully get on the road.
That leaves James Hudson III and several other players added via practice squads, with not many top-end players left to step up.
Hudson has struggled mightily on the field, as well as in the preseason, and the idea of him starting at left tackle doesn’t inspire much confidence.
But the idea that the OBR’s Andrew Spayde put out on social media makes a lot of sense to me.
He suggested that Cleveland could move left guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle, put rookie Luke Wypler at left guard and have Hudson at right tackle.
Bitonio has made it clear in the past that he didn’t want a permanent move to left tackle, but he played a few games at left tackle when the team was struggling – something he could do again.
Luke Wypler performed well at left guard in the preseason, and when Hudson III played well in big games, it was at right tackle.
Bitonio played two games at left tackle in 2021 and received overall grades of 91.5 and 82.6 from PFF, so this could be the Browns’ best option.
Preseason star Austin Watkins Jr. is among two Browns recalled from the practice squad
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