Browns’ Conklin done for season with knee injury
Jack Conklin's injury-riddled 2021 season is officially done.
The Browns All-pro right tackle ruptured his patellar tendon, which will require knee sur- gery, and he has been placed on the injured reserve. Because it is his second trip to the IR in 2021, he is ineligible to return to the 53-man roster.
“Jack's a big part of what we do and he's a good man, good teammate, so feel for Jack,” said coach Kevin Stefanski.
Conklin had to be carted from the sideline after suffering the right knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday night's 16-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Testing Monday confirmed the severity of Conklin's injury, which Stefanski characterized as "serious" immediately after the game.
The injury occurred with 6:27 left in the first quarter, when Conklin collapsed as rookie edge rusher Odafe Oweh bull rushed him.
Conklin walked slowly to the sideline with medical personnel when his right knee appeared to buckle, and he nearly fell.
"It hurts to see Jack like that," Browns All-pro defensive end Myles Garrett said Sunday night. "I see the guy work every day. [To] see him have to deal with all these injuries, knowing what he's going through, it's tough to see, it's tough to watch, and I feel for him."
The 27-year-old Conklin missed the previous three games with a dislocated left elbow. He sat out two games earlier with a knee injury. His season ended with him playing only seven games and just 10 of the offense's 60 snaps (17%) Sunday.
Blake Hance filled in at right tackle after Conklin left, logging 50 snaps (83%). Hance has started four games at right tackle in Conklin's absence this season.