Jack

Conklin

Conklin is coming off of a down year in which he was sidelined by knee and hamstring injuries through the first five weeks of the season. He returned to play in Week 6 and remained available through Week 18 but he earned a career-low 66.2 PFF offense grade along the way. Conklin was set to hit free agency in 2027 but the restructure shortened the contract’s span. He will instead become a free agent in 2026 and can earn up to $2 million in incentives. Conklin and Drew Rosenhaus can spin this as a good thing — it is effectively a pay cut for their client who has not started 15 games in a season since 2020.

Conklin missed the first few games of the season while working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered last year. Conklin tweaked his hamstring just as he was ready to retake the field. Week 6 will be his 2024 debut. He is expected to start at right tackle this week.

Conklin still has yet to play a game this season and will now hope to return for Week 6. In addition to Conklin, the Browns also declared QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, CB Kahlef Hailassie, LB Jordan Hicks, OT James Hudson III, OG Javion Cohen, and WR Jamari Thrash inactive for Week 5.

Center Ethan Pocic was removed from the injury report while fellow offensive tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) is listed as questionable. Conklin began the year recovering from a knee injury. Just when it looked like he was ready to return, Conklin tweaked his hamstring. Deshaun Watson would greatly benefit from getting both of his tackles healthy for Week 5, but that is far from the only thing that the Browns need to address on offense.

This marks Conklin’s first practice in nearly two weeks. The veteran tackle last practiced ahead of the Browns’ Week 3 matchup against the Giants but has yet to suit up for a game. We’ll see if he’s able to play in Week 5 against the Commanders, but things remain very wait-and-see with him as of right now. In addition to Conklin, Jedrick Wills (knee), Ethan Pocic (ankle), and Myles Garrett (Achilles) also returned to practice, although Garrett will probably see light practices weeks going forward given the nature of his injuries.

T Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and C Ethan Pocic (ankle) likewise were unable to practice. The Browns’ injury-ruined offensive line has allowed a league-high 66 QB pressures through four games. The protection issues appear likely to continue, given Wednesday’s injury report.

Wills played on 40 of a possible 67 snaps in his return from injury last week against the Giants. Unfortunately, he reaggravated his knee injury and will now miss Week 4, despite the MRI on his knee showing no significant damage. In addition to Wills, the Browns will also be without Jack Conklin, who has yet to play in a game this season despite being activated from the PUP list at the end of training camp.

Originally listed with a knee issue, Conklin evidently injured his hamstring in practice. It places extra pressure on LT Jedrick Wills (knee) to make his 2024 debut. He is expected to do so after the Browns did not elevate a tackle from the practice squad on Saturday. Dawand Jones will man the right side in Conklin’s absence. 30-year-old Conklin is having an increasingly difficult time staying on the field.

Fellow tackle Jedrick Wills (knee) is also questionable. Conklin is still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered early in the 2023 season. He practiced in full throughout the week, giving him a good shot at suiting up on Sunday. He would likely start at left tackle with Dawand Jones staying on the right side of the line.

Conklin has yet to play this year but appears ready to return from the torn ACL he suffered at the beginning of the 2023 season. Left tackle Jedrick Wills, who has also missed both games this year, was limited in practice. Getting both tackles back would be a massive win for Deshaun Watson.