Key Browns Player Leaves Practice Early On Saturday

The last thing the Cleveland Browns need is an injury to one of their starting offensive linemen. That group has to spend all the time it can get working together to become a cohesive unit before the season opens next month.

That is especially true if some of those players need to switch positions during training camp. The Browns have said they intend to use the five best offensive linemen as starters, with the alignment based on who those players turn out to be.

On Saturday, that plan may have encountered a setback, as key player Tytus Howard left practice early.

“Browns RT Tytus Howard walks in with a trainer,” Daryl Ruiter posted.

#Browns RT Tytus Howard walks in with a trainer pic.twitter.com/cduzeOjt2C

— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) August 8, 2026

In the first offseason move as part of the Browns’ offensive line rebuilding project, Howard was acquired in a trade with the Houston Texans with the thought that he would be their starting right tackle. He manned that position through minicamps and OTAs and entered training camp atop the depth chart.

However, there is a chance that the Browns are considering moving Howard to right guard. Wanting to keep rookie first-round pick Spencer Fano at left tackle, Cleveland may need to find a spot for Dawand Jones among the starting five, and of the remaining positions, he would be best suited at right tackle.

That would mean Howard would move inside, with Zion Johnson at left guard. Howard has said he would be willing to make the switch, even though he has started just two games there in his seven-year career.

The center position also remains in flux with veteran Elgton Jenkins and rookie fifth-round pick Parker Brailsford missing practice time with injuries. Interior linemen Teven Jenkins and Zak Zinter have also been sidelined.

The Browns could eventually find themselves dealing with a difficult balancing act. They’ll want their starting linemen to be healthy for the regular season, but they also need them to work together before that.

Hopefully, this is just a minor issue for Howard, who was able to walk back to the locker room, and he’ll be back at practice sooner rather than later.