Cleveland Browns receive bad injury news heading into Week 1 matchup with Dallas Cowboys

To start the season, the Cleveland Browns are close to healthy but they are just not quite there yet. Ahead of the matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, the Browns ruled out one starter and another player is questionable.

Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is listed as out for the matchup with the Cowboys, while veteran tackle Jack Conklin is being listed as questionable to play.

All 52 players on the active roster practiced on Friday ahead of the season opener, however, there is still a major concern with one starter out.

While Wills has not overall been a good player for the Browns, he is a capable left tackle and they will miss him going up against Micah Parsons. It is likely that the Cowboys look to target whoever fills in at left tackle with Parsons, so that is going to be something to watch.

“Good to get him back out on the field, moving around, getting in the individual drills I think is really important,” Stefanski said of Wills on Friday. “Continues to put every effort he can into getting back, so. But very good to see him out there.”

Cleveland is not going to make a decision on a starter until game time on Sunday likely and a couple of options stand out. If Conklin can go, then he may get his first start at left tackle since 2017 with the Tennessee Titans. Conklin himself is working his way back from a major knee surgery and returned to practice last week.

The other option for the Browns is James Hudson, who has been the team’s swing tackle for the last couple of years. It is already known that second-year tackle Dawand Jones is going to be on the right side.

With Deshaun Watson playing in his first game since November of last year on Sunday, the Browns are going to need to do their best to protect his blindside. That could mean they’ll utilize David Njoku as a blocker on that side a bunch.

With Wills just returning to practice this week, it is no surprise that he is not able to suit up in Week 1 . The acclimation of getting back on the field is key to returning from any injury.

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