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Dawand Jones pushed by Jameis Winston to be 'one of the best tackles this NFL has seen'
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- Dawand Jones pushed by Jameis Winston to be 'one of the best tackles this NFL has seen'
BEREA — There was another Browns debut during their win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday that wasn't just quarterback Jameis Winston . Dawand Jones made a debut of sorts, as he started at left tackle for the first time in his NFL career.
So how'd the second-year tackle do in his debut as Winston's blind-side blocker? Ask the quarterback himself.
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"Well, me and Dawand, we hold each other to a high standard," Winston said this week, "so I knew that he was going to be prepared and ready to go because he can and probably will be one of the best tackles this NFL has seen."
There's still a lot of career to be played before that last part can be determined. Jones was far from perfect against the Ravens, but he was far from out of place, either.
The affirmation of the one person Jones, as the blind-side tackle, was responsible to keep clean was something that resonated to him. Although, he also considers it a continuation of something Winston — starting in place of the injured Deshaun Watson — has done since he arrived, which was to be a positive mentor for Jones.
Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) eyes Baltimore Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson (95) on Oct. 27, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
"Deshaun, he told me the same thing when I was with him," Jones said Thursday. "I could be one the best tackles, as long as I put my head down, keep doing what I'm supposed to do and I can be up there. I appreciate both of them for saying that. It keeps me in uplifting spirits. I really just put myself in a different mindset and a different mode just on the field because I hold to that standard."
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Jones was credited, according to Pro Football Focus, with three total pressures allowed against the Ravens. However, he wasn't dinged for a sack allowed, which meant that Winston stayed relatively clean.
The one time Baltimore managed to get to Winston from Jones' side came on a late first-half strip-sack on a safety blitz by Kyle Hamilton . Jones, on the play, was blocking down on the defensive end as part of a double team with left guard Joel Bitonio . Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that was a result of a "miscommunication" and that it wasn't Jones' fault.
Whether Jones gets another chance at left tackle will be left up to opportunity, although that opportunity may or may not show up this Sunday when the Browns (2-6) play host to the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3). Jedrick Wills Jr. , whose knee injury kept him from playing against the Ravens, has practiced both Wednesday and Thursday, a strong sign he could be trending toward starting against Los Angeles.
That could send Jones back to the bench. He spent the Week 6 loss at the Philadelphia Eagles and a large percentage of the following week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on the sideline with two-time All-Pro Jack Conklin having made his return from the knee injury that ended his season in last year's season opener.
Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones pass blocks against the Steelers during the third quarter, Sept. 18, 2023, in Pittsburgh.
"Whatever the team need me to do, I'm going to do it," Jones said. "So that's really the main thing. Kevin came up and asked me last week, did I want to play left tackle? He gave me a shot and it went well. I just want to keep in on that."
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There's a interesting twist to Jones, who's path to starting nine games as a rookie was opened by the devastating injury Conklin suffered in the second quarter of that opener last season. He remained the starter at right tackle over the first six games of this season.
The second year in the league didn't mean Jones simply picked up where he left off a year ago. He missed the final five regular-season games, as well as the Browns' AFC wild card game at the Houston Texans , last season due to his own knee.
Jones acknowledged he showed up for training camp "a little bit heavier" than the previous season, when he was listed at 374 pounds over a massive 6-foot-8 frame. However, he said he's currently weighing in at 375 pounds.
"I was definitely a little bit heavier," Jones said. "I definitely lost it though. Now in season, just because we're just going, it is definitely tough coming off of injury, just having that weight on you. It kind of hurts, and so I just had to put it on myself to lose weight."
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Jones had to leave the opener against the Dallas Cowboys for a couple of plays due to a shoulder issue. He left the following week's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to cramping issues, although he also acknowledged being injured in the game which has lingered as well.
The Week 3 game against the New York Giants was when Jones found himself getting pulled to start the third quarter, only to have to return shortly after due to injuries to James Hudson III and Wills. The week after that was when Jones missed a block on Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson , who hit Watson, which led Watson to yell at Jones.
All of that has been a pair of an up and down start to Jones' second season. He denied the reasons for the early struggles were do to a false sense of accomplishment.
"No, I'm always humble," Jones said. "I always keep my head down, like I said, hard hat on. Never feel like I've reached the top of, you know, where I'm at. So to answer that question, no, definitely was like, just want to build off of last year. I feel like I did for the most part."
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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
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jameis Winston's words serve as motivation for Browns' Dawand Jones
