CLEVELAND — Basketball enthusiast Dawand Jones hopped through Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse during an exhilarating moment Tuesday night , and Browns fans noticed the scene had been caught on camera.
After Cavaliers small forward Max Strus made a buzzer-beating, game-winning shot from beyond half court against the Dallas Mavericks, Jones couldn't contain his excitement while celebrating near the home team's bench.
"It was crazy," Jones told the Beacon Journal on Thursday night before signing autographs with Browns tight end David Njoku during the Cleveland Auto Show at the I-X Center.
"I thought the Cavs lost, honestly, and then you just see Max Strus hit the 3 out of nowhere. It was a surprising moment."
Social media sleuths interpreted the video clip from Bally Sports Ohio's broadcast as a good sign for Jones' progress on the comeback trail. The Browns offensive tackle is recovering from mid-December surgery on his right knee .
"I'm all right," Jones said. "I'm day to day still. I'm [nearly] three months post-operation, so I'm getting back to where I'm supposed to be at. I'm not fully healthy, but I'm getting better as the time goes."
Jones explained he had his medial collateral ligament and meniscus cartilage repaired. The knee injury the fourth-round draft pick from Ohio State suffered Dec. 7 during practice halted what had been an impressive rookie season.
The 22-year-old Jones said his goal is to be ready to resume football activity by the time mandatory minicamp is held in June.
On Tuesday during the NFL Scouting Combine, General Manager Andrew Berry told reporters in Indianapolis the Browns expect Jones, right tackle Jack Conklin and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to be ready for the start of the 2024 season. All three linemen suffered season-ending knee injuries last year.
"I feel good," Jones said. "My body's doing well. I think that's the main part. I get stiff some days, but it's just what comes with the knee, and you try to make sure you keep getting through the scar tissue, making sure you keep getting through it every day."
A former Indiana high school basketball star who considered playing hoops at Kent State before deciding football would be his career path, Jones donned a No. 73 Browns jersey while he watched Strus swish his miraculous 59-foot shot.
Of course, the wardrobe choice is a nod to Browns legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Joe Thomas , but it's not necessarily foreshadowing. Jones explained his focus is on right tackle, the position he played last season. Jones said nobody with the Browns has talked to him about the possibility of moving to left tackle.
Assuming Jones, Conklin and Wills bounce back from their injuries, the Browns would have three offensive tackles worthy of starting.
"It's a good problem to have," Berry said at the combine. "Tackle's a position we'll always invest in. It's just too important. We're O-line snobs. Honestly, my focus is on building the roster and making sure the guys get healthy. We're six months from playing, so we'll deal with that."
No matter how it all shakes out, Jones is on a rookie contract and clearly in the franchise's plans for the future.
Listed as 6 feet, 8 inches and 374 pounds, Jones experienced substantial improvement last season under the guidance of noted offensive line coach Bill Callahan . This offseason, Callahan left the Browns to work with son Brian , the new head coach of the Tennessee Titans .
"I'm happy for him," Jones said. "Bill worked his tail off for that situation. Just being in the meeting room with him, now that him and his son get to coach with each other, it's going to be really nice, but also tough to go against. So I'm really just happy for Coach Callahan."
Jones said he has met new Browns offensive line coach Andy Dickerson at team headquarters in Berea, but they have yet to engage in an in-depth conversation. Jones expressed eagerness to work with Dickerson and absorb his coaching.
More Cleveland Browns coverage: Andrew Berry reaffirms feelings for Nick Chubb, but has no update on running back's future
Jones finished 48th among 81 qualifying offensive tackles in ProFootballFocus.com's grades last season. He ranked 26th in pass blocking and pointed to the running game as the facet of the sport he's aiming to enhance most in the buildup to his second NFL season.
Jones started nine of the 11 games in which he appeared in 2023 and allowed three sacks in 419 pass-block snaps, according to PFF's count. He was voted to the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.
"It's just like a steppingstone," Jones said. "I'm just getting my foot in the door, just showing everybody my hard work that I put into the game this upcoming season. Like I said, it's a steppingstone to the next season, just working for a Pro Bowl and then hopefully All Pro."
Browns fans will be jumping for joy if those accolades are next for Jones.
Browns news at NFL Scouting Combine: Kevin Stefanski, Ken Dorsey excited to talk 'big picture' with Deshaun Watson
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns' Dawand Jones 'getting back' to himself after surgery
