Teven

Jenkins

The Browns enter Thursday Night Football without their starting center and right guard. Running the ball up the middle against the Steelers’ talented defensive tackle group could be challenging. Green will serve as the Browns’ emergency third quarterback.

The Browns have a quick turnaround as they prepare to face the Steelers on Thursday Night Football in Week 4, making it highly unlikely that Elgton Jenkins will be able to clear concussion protocol in time to suit up. That makes the practice status of Teven Jenkins of primary concern considering an absence would mean the Browns would be without two of their starting interior offensive linemen against one of the better pass rushes in the league.

He did not practice at any point this week and looks to be questionable for Week 4. The Browns also listed CB Tyson Campbell (hip, ankle) and Grant Delpit (shoulder) as questionable. Browns coach Todd Monken said he’s “hopeful” Campbell and Delpit will go.

Jenkins will miss a second straight game with a back injury that has sidelined him since last Thursday’s practice. The sixth-year guard was replaced by Austin Barber in last week’s game against the Jaguars. Barber appeared on 51 snaps, earning a PFF grade of 82.6 while allowing just one QB pressure on 33 pass-blocking snaps.

Jenkins missed the last two practices of Week 1 with a back injury that flared up. He is the starting right guard for the Browns’ offensive line but will now miss this week against the Jaguars. The other injury inactive is backup center Parker Brailsford (thumb), who got in some limited practices but is not healthy enough to be active just yet. Rookie Taylen Green will serve as the team’s emergency third quarterback.

Jenkins mysteriously had little market after three years of outstanding PFF grades in Chicago, then wound up mostly playing off the bench for the Browns in 2025. He had a career-best 77.7 PFF blocking grade in 324 snaps. We’re guessing he’s not getting a major contract here, but it’s another solid signing for the Browns as they try to rebuild their offensive line.

This despite Cleveland’s recent signing of Teven Jenkins. The Browns’ offensive line was hit hard by injuries last season, and both Teller (30 years old) and incumbent LG Joel Bitonio (33 years old) are scheduled to hit free agency next offseason. The 27-year-old Jenkins received a one-year, $3.05 million prove-it deal, giving him the chance to earn a multi-year contract as either Teller or Bitonio’s replacement. Jenkins has experience playing both left guard and right guard. Teller has declined handily from his 2020-2021 peak while dealing with injuries, posting a 62.6 PFF grade in 2024 that was his lowest since 2019.

The terms aren’t yet known, but Jenkins brings three years of starting experience to the Browns. Despite the Bears’ decision to move on from him, Jenkins has graded out as one of the top-15 guards in the league in each of the last two seasons, per PFF, and has allowed 17 or fewer pressures in every season he’s played in. Cleveland wouldn’t seem to have an obvious starting spot for Jenkins, whose market appears to have been weaker than expected because of his lengthy injury history.

Jenkins started 14 games for the Bears last season, but became expendable after the team went out and upgraded both guard positions this offseason. Jenkins earned a PFF blocking grade of 75.4 last season and has graded as a top-15 blocker in each of his last two seasons. The former second-round pick is a more than serviceable starter who would immediately provide an upgrade to a Seahawks line that saw some of the worst guard play in the league last season.

The Giants recently signed veteran OG Greg Van Roten so this may come down to the Bengals and Seahawks. Both teams need to significantly improve their interior blocking. Jenkins entered the NFL as a left tackle in 2021 but was ultimately shifted to offensive guard; first right, then left. Jenkins has generally performed reliably as a run blocker throughout his career while incrementally improving his pass protection skills. He earned a career-best 75.8 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2024. Both teams should be willing to meet the 27-year-old’s asking price.