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Browns line takes step forward with Jack Conklin's return, step back losing Nick Harris
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- Browns line takes step forward with Jack Conklin's return, step back losing Nick Harris
PHILADELPHIA — It was a step forward for the Browns offensive line when Jack Conklin ran out with the starting group at right tackle Sunday in Philadelphia. That progress lasted for all of three plays.
On the Browns ' third offensive play in Sunday's 20-16 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles , center Nick Harris went down with an ankle injury. With regular starter Ethan Pocic out with a knee injury, that led to yet another offensive line combination, which has become commonplace for the group this season.
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Michael Dunn , who was starting at right guard, slid over to center. Zak Zinter , who Dunn had replaced at right guard after the rookie struggled in two starts in place of an injured Wyatt Teller , came in to replace Dunn.
"You hate to see it," Conklin said. "Poor Nick. It's a real bummer. He's been working his ass off, and just to have that happen, I know the feeling. It's horrible. Credit to Dunny and Zak. They stepped in, did a great job and these guys, we prepare week in, week out for every situation, and credit those guys for stepping up and doing a great job coming in."
Conklin had spent more than a year waiting for Sunday. He suffered a major left knee injury in last season's opener that left some even wondering if it might lead him to retirement.
Cleveland Browns center Nick Harris is carted off the field after an injury against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter Sunday in Philadelphia.
The two-time All-Pro returned to practice Aug. 27, but wasn't quite ready to play in the first two games. He appeared set to make his debut in Week 3 against the New York Giants , but suffered a hamstring injury the Friday before the game that cost him three more games.
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Conklin stepped in at right tackle for second-year pro Dawand Jones , who had struggled at times in the first five games, especially dealing with pressure off the edge.
"No, it was good to see Jack back," said left guard Joel Bitonio , the only Browns offensive lineman to start all six games at the same spot. "He's been through a lot over a year of not playing. He worked really hard to get back. To have Jack back in there was very cool. I was just happy that he made it through the game healthy."
The same can't be said for Harris, who made his first start of the season at center. On a third-and-5 play just three minutes into the game, he was pass blocking when his right leg got tangled up with, among others, quarterback Deshaun Watson 's and he injured the ankle when he was knocked backwards by Philadelphia's Moro Ojomo .
That led the Browns to have to break the "in case of the emergency" glass that had unfolded in front of them. Dunn, who had played only guard and tackle in a game with the team, moved over to play center the rest of the game.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson calls a play against the Eagles in the fourth quarter, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia.
"I mean, obviously this week, focusing on right guard in practice, was more so doing pre-practice, post-practice during our center-quarterback part of practice, getting some snaps in," Dunn said. "It's something I've been doing for a long time now. I've always been snapping.
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"The coaches do a great job making sure that we have plenty of centers available for a situation like this to occur. So I was ready to go once it came down to it."
There weren't many obvious issues with the snap between Dunn and Watson, who acknowledged after the game "that was the first time I've ever worked with Michael Dunn." Watson said he had previously worked with Pocic and Harris primarily, but also some with Bitonio or Zinter, while Dunn spent much of training camp and the first four games on the non-football illness list.
The Browns were flagged for one delay of game when it seemed there was some miscommunication on getting the snap. However, Dunn's biggest misstep came with 11 minutes remaining when he was flagged for a hold on a third-and-6 that negated Watson's 11-yard scramble to the Philadelphia 13.
That drive ended with the Browns needing a 49-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal to tie the score 13-13. The Eagles took the lead for good on the next series.
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"Yeah, I mean, I obviously would have to see it on film. I feel bad that I must've put myself in a position to hold. But, yeah, no, I can't be doing that and hurting the team."
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: Nick Harris' injury vs. Eagles spoils Browns offensive line progress
