Browns coach Kevin Stefanski: 'We'll just deal with' left tackle injuries 'day to day'

The Browns already had what seemed to be a left tackle problem when the sun rose on Saturday. By the time it set that night, about the same time they were wrapping up their second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings , it had gone from problem to catastrophe.

The expected starter, Jedrick Wills Jr., continues to come back from an medial collateral ligament injury suffered last November, but has shown no visible indication of when he'll be back doing on-field football work. The 27-12 loss to the Vikings , though, took out the three top candidates behind Wills: James Hudson III (ankle), Germain Ifedi (hand) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee).

By the end of the game it was Lorenzo Thompson playing left tackle. That left many from the outside wondering just what cataclysm was next for the Browns at that position with the final preseason game at the Seattle Seahawks awaiting on Saturday.

"We're just working," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said of the outside impressions about the tackle position during a Zoom call Sunday. "I understand what you're saying and I can understand what that may look like but, for us, we feel really good about the people we have in this building. We got guys that are working hard to get back, and we'll just deal with it day to day."

Stefanski did have some slightly positive updates on at least one of the injured tackles. He said Hudson wouldn't play this week against the Seahawks, but "he will be back soon."

Ifedi, who started at left tackle against the Vikings, "should be good to go." The former 2016 first-round pick of the Seahawks has seen more work at the left tackle position during the joint practices last week with Minnesota, and would be a strong bet to start against his former team Saturday.

The one that will linger is the knee injury to Adeniji. Stefanski said the tackle "is out for a little bit."

Adeniji, who started for the Cincinnati Bengals in this playoff runs in 2021 and 2022, sustained the injury while trying to tackle Minnesota's Dwight McGlotheran after his interception of quarterback Tyler Huntley.

"I will highlight his effort on that play was unbelievable, running down," Stefanski said of Adeniji. "Those are types of things I thought you can teach off of those moments with your players. So his effort was unbelievable. … But we'll get him back as soon as we can."

The Browns will almost certainly make at least one, if not multiple, moves to at least address the position for this week's trip to Seattle. Complicating matters is the waiting that continues to go on for Wills to return to the field.

Stefanski continues to dance around questions about Wills' rehab, other than to say "he won't be practicing this week." The Browns have to make decisions about him and multiple other injured players, as well as the rest of the roster, by 4 p.m. Aug. 27.

That means there's going to be more churn at the tackle spot this week as someone will be brought in to provide depth at very least. The only move the Browns had made by early Sunday afternoon was to waive cornerback Vincent Gray off injured reserve.

"I think we're working through all those type of things, really at every position," Stefanski said. "Obviously we mentioned this last night, nobody loves the injury piece of this, but when it happens we have to do our due diligence and look around and that type of thing. But I feel confident certainly in the group that we have."

Starting Deshaun Watson at QB against Seattle Seahawks 'still the plan'

The real impact of the tackle situation is now on the decision Stefanski will make regarding quarterback Deshaun Watson. As of now, the coach said, there's been no official change in what the Browns are doing with Watson in the preseason finale in Seattle.

"The plan is for him to play," Stefanski said. "I always take in information, so I'm going to make sure I talk to and work through that this week. Not going to get into who plays and how much just yet, but going to certainly work through that in the next couple of days."

Watson has not played in a game of any kind since leading the Browns to a come-from-behind win at the Baltimore Ravens last Nov. 12. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve three days later due to a broken glenoid, which was repaired during surgery in Los Angeles on Nov. 21.

There's only been one day in training camp when Watson hasn't thrown. He had flashes against the Vikings in the two days of joint practices, but dealt with protection issues often and interceptions on other plays.

Gionvanni Ricci sidelined for 'a few weeks' with knee injury

One of the under-the-radar injuries the Browns suffered against the Vikings was fullback/tight end Giovanni Ricci, who will be out for "a few week," according to Stefanski. He was injured during a two-minute drill late in the first half after a 17-yard pass from quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson move the ball to the Vikings 45.

Ricci was in line to likely secure the No. 3 tight end spot behind David Njoku and Jordan Akins. The key to him was his versatility and blocking, which is why the Browns had him working at fullback, a spot Stefanski said they have other potential candidates to play.

"You have fullbacks that can line up at tight end," Stefanski said, "you have tight ends that can line up fullback. So there’s a little bit of that, and we’ll work through all those things over the next few weeks.”

One such player could be Zaire Mitchell-Paden, who's in line to potentially grab the No. 3 tight end spot. Stefanski said Mitchell-Paden was "fine" after walking off with a trainer late in Saturday's game.

Young LBs like Devin Bush, Mohmaoud Diabate take advantage of injuries

The Browns haven't had their full complement of linebackers available since they were still at The Greenbrier the first week of camp. The two big injuries have been to veteran Jordan Hicks and fourth-year pro Tony Fields II, both of whom have been sidelined for weeks with what have been undisclosed injuries.

That's opened the door for some young players to potentially grab spots. Two of those in particular are former first-round pick Devin Bush and second-year pro Mohamoud Diabate.

"I think Mohamoud has had some really, really good moments in these games," Stefanski said. "Not perfect, things that I know he can do better. I know that [linebackers coach Jason Tarver] will work very hard with him to get him better, but he’s doing a nice job calling the defense, making plays, playing with great effort. And, similarly, Devin, you know, new system for him, but to come in and kind of learn some different techniques and those type of things, I think he’s had some good moments in these games as well.”

Winston Reid was the linebacker with the most defensive snaps against the Vikings, with 44 (76%). Diabate was tied with Caleb Johnson for second-most with 31 each, which was 53%.

Bush played 21 snaps (36%) against Minnesota.

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: Browns coach Kevin Stefanski: 'We'll just deal with' left tackle injuries 'day to day'