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Browns stars Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith will play vs. Jaguars, Jedrick Wills Jr. won't
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- Browns stars Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith will play vs. Jaguars, Jedrick Wills Jr. won't
BEREA — The Browns appear to have dodged a bullet with regards to their bookend defensive ends , but there remains a question as to who may block the Jacksonville Jaguars defensive ends on Sunday.
Both Myles Garrett and Za'Darius Smith were back on the practice field Friday in a limited capacity after they missed the previous day's practice. Garrett was listed as having a foot injury, while Smith's ailment was listed as his back.
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Neither was listed on the Browns ' official game status report, meaning they're expected to play Sunday at Jacksonville . The Browns did list both offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and tight end David Njoku (ankle) as out for the game, and offensive tackle Jack Conklin (knee) was listed as questionable.
While Smith's missed day was, in his own words "more vet day than back," Garrett acknowledged there may be a little more to his foot issue. Neither, though, will keep the Browns' two star edge rushers out of Sunday's game.
"I wouldn't say there's something to worry about," Garrett said Friday, "just something for us to manage and be conscious of, at least for myself, be conscious of and be just a little cautious."
Garrett said the issue didn't happen during last Sunday's season opener against the Dallas Cowboys . However, he acknowledged he was dealing with it during the game.
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett, facing, hugs Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and linebacker Micah Parsons after losing to the Cowboys in an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Asked if he thought it would impact him against the Jaguars, Garrett said, "We'll see." Asked later if he would share what the exact injury was, he said, "I could tell you and get yelled at by [coach] Kevin [Stefanski], so I'm OK."
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The issue, for the second week in a row, remains the question at left tackle. The statuses of Wills and Conklin did little to solve the quandary that has existed for months.
Whoever the left tackle is will find himself in a critical in-game matchup against Jacksonville's dynamic edge rushers Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker . James Hudson III started at the position the opener against the Dallas Cowboys with both Wills and Conklin inactive for the game.
"You've got to still go out and play whoever's out there for them, whoever's out there for us," Jaguars coach Doug Pederson told Jacksonville area reporters. "I mean, they're not going to change, we're not going to change. I just think you have to go execute and play and study the man that you're going up against and study his tendencies. I think that's the most important thing. Now, once you get into the game, if situations arise, you can obviously alter and change and do different things, but I think going into it you just stick to your game plan and trust that what you've done this week is enough to get the job done."
Hudson or Conklin, if he's active, could be possibilities to start against the Jaguars. Stefanski wouldn't reveal Friday who the left tackle starter would be.
"We will use the next 24 hours, 48 hours," Stefanski said, "see how everybody comes out of practice today before we make that determination."
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Wills did practice for consecutive days for the first time since the knee injury last Nov. 5 that ended his season. He was also ruled out last Friday ahead of the opener.
Conklin was the other key offensive player whose status was uncertain going into the week. He was also questionable for the Dallas game, but was ruled out.
Conklin has been practicing since Aug. 27, when he finally returned to the field after a devastating knee injury suffered in last season's opener against the Cincinnati Bengals .
"I think anybody that's coming off of an injury, with more reps you continue to feel more confident and comfortable and move better," Stefanski said. "All those things with more reps."
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The only Browns player on the active roster who was not on the field for Friday's practice was Njoku, who was ruled out against Jacksonville on Wednesday. Njoku sustained a high ankle sprain against the Cowboys.
The Browns placed five players on the injured reserve list this week, all of them on defense. Safety Juan Thornhill (calf), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (ankle) and linebackers Tony Fields II (ankle) and Mohamoud Diabate (hip) all went on the IR on Wednesday, and cornerback Myles Harden (shin) was placed on the list Thursday.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Myles Garrett, Za'Darius Smith to play vs. Jaguars, Jedrick Wills out
