Ever since the Cleveland Browns embarked on the rebuilding project for their offensive line, they have maintained that they intend to use the five best players and sort out the positional alignment based on who those turn out to be. Now, entering their first preseason game against the Chicago Bears on Saturday afternoon, they look to be wavering from that plan just a bit.
Tytus Howard was the first major move of the renovation, acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans. He will be the starting right tackle against the Bears, but that may not wind up being his position in Week 1 of the regular season.
Insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com is urging the Browns to seriously consider a major offensive line move, which would shift Howard in order to get Dawand Jones on the field.
“The Browns should seriously consider starting Dawand Jones at right tackle and sliding Tytus Howard over to right guard. That gets the Browns’ five best offensive linemen on the field, and that’s what the Browns need for whoever starts at QB. The Browns haven’t praised their right guard candidates as much as they have Jones. With five new starters on the line, it’s imperative to field the best five, even though offensive line coach George Warhop doesn’t really want to move Howard,” Cabot wrote.
As of now, Teven Jenkins is atop the depth chart at right guard after holding off KT Levenson and Tyre Phillips so far in training camp. Jenkins re-signed with the Browns this offseason after starting four games in his first season with Cleveland last year.
Jones has been a pleasant surprise after playing just three games last year in his third straight injury-shortened campaign. He was Cleveland’s left tackle to open last season, and he is the only returning starting lineman from Week 1 still on the team.
There was a chance that starting center Elgton Jenkins, a free agent signee from the Green Bay Packers, could move to his more natural guard position if fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford was able to quickly get up to speed. However, the rookie has missed practice time during camp, and he is one of 16 Browns who have been ruled out on Saturday.
Fellow rookie Spencer Fano will make his Browns debut as the starting left tackle, and free agent Zion Johnson will line up at guard next to him. Jones will likely get some playing time later in the game.
Cleveland’s offensive line has been dominated at times by the Browns’ defensive front in camp, so it will look for a better performance facing a Chicago lineup of mostly backups.
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