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Offensive tackle Jack Conklin downgraded to out for Browns game against Giants
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- Offensive tackle Jack Conklin downgraded to out for Browns game against Giants
( This story was updated to include new information.)
CLEVELAND — The Browns announced on Saturday that offensive tackle Jack Conklin was downgraded to out because of a hamstring injury. However, the other moves Cleveland made on Saturday seem to indicate left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. may be ready to return.
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Among the typical day-before roster moves, the Browns announced Saturday they are signing tight end Blake Whiteheart and running back Gary Brightwell off the practice squad to the active roster. They are also elevating tight end Geoff Swaim and cornerback Tony Brown II from the practice squad to the gameday roster for Sunday's home game against the New York Giants .
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson was brought back to the practice squad. The sixth-round pick in April's draft was waived on Thursday.
Whiteheart and Swaim join Jordan Akins to give Cleveland two tights end available with David Njoku still out with an ankle injury. Brightwell adds depth at running back with Pierre Strong Jr. out with a hamstring injury and both Nick Chubb and Nyheim Hines still on either physically unable to perform or the non-football injury list.
Browns offensive tackle Jack Conklin celebrates a David Njoku first-half touchdown against the Steelers, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Cleveland.
Both Wills and Conklin were listed as questionable on Friday's game status report due to their recoveries from last year's knee surgeries. Coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice the final determination on whether or not they would play will come on game day.
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"I sound like a broken record, but you really have to see how guys come through a practice, see how they come through the next day and those type of things," Stefanski said. "And that's what we'll do with all of our guys — check in with them tomorrow, check in with them on game day, making sure that they're feeling ready to roll."
The only other true tackles on the roster are Dawand Jones and James Hudson III. They been the starting right and left tackles, respectively, for the first two games.
Germain Ifedi was elevated for both games to provide a swing tackle backup, which used two of his possible three elevations unless he is signed to the active roster. He played a combined 13 offensive plays at right tackle when Jones had to leave each game due to minor injury concerns.
Jones was on the injury report this week with what he called "soreness" in his knee. It caused him to miss Wednesday's practice, but he did practice on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday, and wasn't given a injury designation for the game.
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"Every team has guys that are battling injuries and a variety of injuries, and some are obviously upper body, lower body, some are keeping you out of a game, some are maybe, 'Hey, it's going to keep you out of a quarter,' or whatever it is," Stefanski said. "So that's part of the league is pushing through it. So I think for a young player like you mentioned with Dawand, for him to push through it, I think does show you that he's understanding what it takes to be a pro."
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is taped up by a member of the medical staff during NFL football training camp, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Berea, Ohio.
Conklin and Wills have been working to return to games for a few weeks now. Conklin returned to practice on Aug. 27 after a devastating left knee injury sustained in last year's season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals , while Wills returned to practice Sept. 4 after his right knee was injured in Week 9 of last season against the Arizona Cardinals .
Wills has been ruled out for both game this season on Friday afternoon. Conklin was listed as questionable for both, but inactive on game day.
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"It's been great to have as many bodies out there as possible really practicing," offensive line coach Andy Dickerson said Friday. "So that's really probably the most fun part, to get with those guys again for … It's been about the first two weeks of really having those guys out there for individual and getting some team reps. So it's been great to have them out there."
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: Jack Conklin downgraded to out for Browns game against Giants
