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Joel Bitonio's injury meant Wyatt Teller was Browns' last original starting O-lineman left
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- Joel Bitonio's injury meant Wyatt Teller was Browns' last original starting O-lineman left
CLEVELAND — Joel Bitonio took a knee on the field Sunday with 6:08 remaining in the first quarter, and the All-Pro left guard never returned to the Browns' 20-17 victory over the Chicago Bears .
The back injury Bitonio suffered against the Bears (5-9) resulted in right guard Wyatt Teller becoming the only starting offensive lineman from the beginning of this season who played for the Browns (9-5) in the final three quarters of their wild comeback win on Cleveland's lakefront.
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After the game, Bitonio said his back tightened. A Browns spokesman had explained early in the third quarter the five-time Pro Bowl selection would only be available to play in an emergency.
"My back's messed up," Bitonio said. "I don't know exactly what happened, but not feeling good.
"Obviously, I want to be on the field with the guys, but I couldn't today. But they kept fighting, and they found a way, which is awesome."
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Bitonio's back locked up during pregame. He still started, yet it shut him down early in the game.
Browns guard Joel Bitonio is helped off the field after an injury in the first half against the Chicago Bears in Cleveland on Dec. 17.
After Browns get closer to playoffs with win over Bears, All-Pro left guard Joel Bitonio said he couldn't 'move right now' due to back
Bitonio is known for accommodating media requests, yet he made it clear the discomfort he experienced created a desire to keep his group interview short.
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"I was going to walk back to the treatment room, and then everybody surrounded me, so it's not the best timing for me [to do an interview]," Bitonio said. "I just can't move right now, but we'll see how it goes this week."
If Bitonio can't play Sunday on the road against the Houston Texans (8-6), the Browns would likely start Michael Dunn in his place. Dunn replaced Bitonio against the Bears and earlier this season.
Although the Browns have used six different combinations for their starting offensive line this season, they're knocking on the playoff door with three regular-season games left.
"It's a testament to the culture of our offensive line," Dunn told the Beacon Journal. "You look at how many guys have played throughout the season, and nobody looks at themselves as a backup. Everybody just views themselves as a starter. We're going to prepare like a starter.
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"Obviously, in the position like I was in, I hope my number's not called because I don't want whatever happened to Joel to happen. But we just treat the week as if we are playing."
Bitonio, 32, had to be helped off the field by medical personnel after an 8-yard pass from quarterback Joe Flacco to tight end David Njoku during the Browns' third possession. Bitonio remained on the sideline for the rest of the game.
"With a back injury, you kind of want to move the most you can anyway, so I was just trying to keep it moving, and I was one of the eight guys they dressed up for the game, so who knows what happens in a football game?" Bitonio said. "So I was just trying to fight until I couldn't anymore."
Dunn revealed Bitonio offered him advice and observations about the Bears defense throughout the final three quarters-plus.
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"Joel was there the entire time," Dunn said. "You could tell he was super frustrated that he was out, but every time I got off the field, he was talking to me and just letting me know how things are going. Just to have a guy like that, it helps so much."
Browns guard Michael Dunn stands on the sideline against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Dec. 10, 2023, in Cleveland.
Cleveland Browns center Nick Harris started vs. Chicago Bears in place of Ethan Pocic
A two-time first-team All Pro, Bitonio had his 102 consecutive regular-season game streak snapped in Week 6 against the San Francisco 49ers while he recovered from arthroscopic knee surgery.
Dunn started at left guard then (the Browns beat the Niners 19-17) and knows he must be ready for the Texans in case Bitonio remains sidelined.
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"[Dunn is] an absolute dog," Teller said. "He's a winner. When he plays, we win. He knows his role, and he plays it well.
"[He stays] ready to play. ... Guys who aren't the starters are still leaders, and that's a special thing to have in the room."
Teller also praised Nick Harris by calling him a starting-caliber center. Harris started against the Bears and played 69 of 76 snaps last week in a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars because Ethan Pocic suffered a stinger. In the fourth quarter Sunday, Harris missed a play due to injury, prompting rookie sixth-round draft pick Luke Wypler to fill in at center.
The Browns never got their running game going Sunday and finished with only 29 yards on 18 carries (1.6 average). Flacco went 28-of-44 passing for 374 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions. He took four sacks.
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Browns held on vs. Bears on final play: A Justin Fields Hail Mary nearly gave Chicago the win in Cleveland
The 2023 Browns' original starting offensive line of Bitonio, Teller, Pocic, left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and right tackle Jack Conklin didn't even last one full game because Conklin suffered a season-ending knee injury in the Sept. 10 opener.
Later, Wills and rookie fourth-round right tackle Dawand Jones suffered season-ending knee injuries as well. Wills last played on Nov. 5 and Jones on Dec. 3. Geron Christian Sr. and James Hudson III have stepped into the starting lineup at left and right tackle, respectively.
Cohesion is vital for an offensive line, and Teller explained the group, backups included, constantly strives for it behind the scenes under position coaches Bill Callahan and Scott Peters.
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"While I haven't played [much] on Sunday next to these guys, we practice all the time together," Teller said. "We spend so much time together at the facility, in the building, working on these bonds, working on these group combos and everything like that. So to be able to do that, it really helps when injuries happen."
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich . Beacon Journal Browns beat writer Chris Easterling contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns left guard Joel Bitonio suffers back injury vs. Bears
