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Browns make the call at right tackle ahead of Week 8 game at Steelers
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- Browns make the call at right tackle ahead of Week 8 game at Steelers
BEREA ― The Browns were holding out hope that one more day would be enough to get right tackle Tytus Howard back before they departed for their Nov. 1 AFC North showdown in Pittsburgh. It turned out to be enough time.
Howard is expected to start at right tackle for the game at the Pittsburgh Steelers , the team announced prior to leaving for the Steel City on Oct. 31. The veteran offensive lineman was able to clear concussion protocol after going through a workout Oct. 31, the first time all week he was able to practice.
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Howard was originally listed as questionable. Monken said there was enough time for him to still clear protocol before the game.
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"We'll have a better idea in the morning," Browns coach Todd Monken said Oct. 30. "We do have a practice tomorrow [Oct. 31] to work our way through it."
Fourth-year pro Dawand Jones was in line to start in Howard's place if he didn't clear the protocol. Jones came on for Howard when he left the Browns' Week 7 win at the Tennessee Titans with 12:31 remaining in the third quarter, playing the final 25 snaps of the 27-24 victory.
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The game in Tennesse was the second time this season Jones got extensive playing time while Howard was dealing with an injury. The big tackle out of Ohio State also played 33 plays for Howard while he was dealing with a knee injury in a Week 5 loss to the New York Jets.
"Yeah, I think it's never easy for a player to have to come off the bench and be a little bit cold. I thought he did well," Browns coach Todd Monkens said earlier in the week. "You know, I'm sure there's plays, like every player, he's no different than every player, that they wish they had back. But I think Dawand has really worked hard. I mean, over the last few weeks you can see it in practice, he's been more diligent. He understands, you know, that at any moment he could go in, and the expectation of this position is that he'll play well."
Jones originally spent the offseason program and early portion of training camp alternating with rookie Spencer Fano at left tackle before Fano took control of the job the week of the preseason opener at the Chicago Bears. He moved back to right tackle primarily later in camp, once rookie Austin Barber began to get reps at right guard.
Nickelback Myles Harden (hamstring) and safety Daniel Thomas (ankle) each remain questionable for the Browns.
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The Browns also elevated tight end Carsen Ryan from the practice squad to the gameday roster. Ryan, a seventh-round pick out of BYU in April's draft, was re-signed to the practice squad Oct. 28, two days after he was waived when they activated quarterback Dillon Gabriel from the injured reserve list.
Ryan gives the Browns three tight ends on the gameday roster, along with Harold Fannin Jr. and Blake Whiteheart. Although the rookie has appeared in six games this season, he was almost exclusively utilized on special teams.
"Yeah, just stay the course," Browns tight ends cosch Jeff Blasko said of Ryan Oct. 30. "Obviously the roster situation is always tricky just in terms of how that changes and how that evolves throughout the course of the season. And there's so many things within that that are out of all of our control.
"And all you can do is just show up day in and day out and just continue to put the work in, continue to develop. And I think he's done a hell of a job of doing that up to this point."
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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. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns make the call at right tackle ahead of Week 8 game at Steelers
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