SAD NEWS: Browns key player terribly injured and may not return

Another Browns injury, this time safety Rodney McLeod will miss the rest of the season

The story of the Cleveland Browns season has not been fully written at this point but injuries will be an obvious chapter to the story. Overcoming injuries, along with the top-shelf defense, is the theme for the Browns as they have started the year with a 7-3 record.

Prior to Week 11 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland’s major injuries have come on the offensive side of the ball:

RB Nick Chubb
OL Jack Conklin
QB Deshaun Watson

Even OL Jedrick Wills’ injury placed him on injured reserve even though he is expected to return.

Now, safety Rodney McLeod joins that list from the defensive side of the ball:

Browns Kevin Stefanski said S Rodney McLeod has a season-ending bicep injury that will require surgery.

With Juan Thornhill missing time and DC Jim Schwartz’s use of three safeties at times, McLeod has been a key component of the defense.

Undrafted safeties D’Anthony Bell and Ronnie Hickman are currently slated to provide depth behind Grant Delpit and Thornhill (if/when he is back on the field).

GM Andrew Berry could scour the free agent market for a veteran to help provide depth to the safety room as well.

Dawand Jones came into Sunday’s matchup with the Steelers having spent all week on the Browns‘ injury report with a knee and shoulder injury. Nothing was going to keep him from being out there for his team on Sunday. Who is new Browns GM Andrew Berry? - ESPN - Cleveland Browns Blog- ESPN

Who is new Browns GM Andrew Berry? - ESPN - Cleveland Browns Blog- ESPN

While some most fans may have believed his availability would mean he’d be lining up at right tackle on every snap, the coaching staff had other plans for Jones, rotating him with veteran James Hudson III throughout the game. Despite playing through some injuries, Jones did everything in his power slow down one of the league’s best in T.J. Watt.

It became evident early on that Jones was subbing in for the majority of obvious passing situations with a focus on limiting Watt. That means Watt knew what was coming every time Jones entered the game. That didn’t stop the rookie from having a notable day in their head-to-head matchup, in what was just his seventh career game.

Jones wasn’t just up for the task, he dominated it. Against Watt on Sunday he had 19 pass blocking snaps and didn’t surrender a single sack or pressure to the former defensive player of the year. He would finish the day with a PFF grade of 68.9, good for third-best on Cleveland’s offense.

Watt did end up registering one sack on the afternoon but that was rushing against Hudson III.

Not only has Jones been a pleasant surprise for the Browns but he is legitimately in the discussion for Rookie of the Year. Despite losing Jack Conklin in Week 1 to a season-ending injury, the offensive line has barely missed a beat with Jones filling in for him. It is amazing that “Big Thanos” dropped all the way to the 4th round where the Browns were able to select him.

Jones’ first game was in Week 2 against the Steelers and the growth even from then is evident. Browns legend and Hall of Famer Joe Thomas spoke today on Cleveland Browns Daily and expressed just how impressed he was with the Ohio State product. In a tweet he shared some thoughts on one specific play where Jones was matched up with Watt and provided praise for the rookie.

Cleveland struck gold with their pick of Dawand Jones. He is continuing to prove that he more than belongs in this league and he may have already cemented himself as the Browns tackle of the future.