The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Rookie Hudson being prepared to start vs. Texans
Wills, Hubbard still on injury report
It is only the second game of the season, and already the Browns are talking about “next man up” on their stellar offensive line.
Left tackle Jedrick Wills missed his second straight practice with the ankle injury that knocked him out of the first half of the game with the Chiefs on Sept. 12. Chris Hubbard replaced Wills and finished the game, but at some point he suffered a triceps injury that prevented him from practicing Sept. 15 and 16.
If neither Wills nor Hubbard can play, the starting assignment will go to rookie James Hudson III. Hudson is a fourth-round draft pick from the University of Cincinnati. He had an up and down preseason and was on the inactive list for the Kansas City game.
“We’re getting James ready to go right now, so I’m not sure what happens on game day,” offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said before practice Sept. 16. “We’ll play whoever is available and expect him to play well regardless of whether he’s a rookie or not.”
Hudson worked at both left and right tackle in training camp and preseason games. He seemed more comfortable at right tackle and has been working one-on-one with offensive line coach Bill Callahan and assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters.
“He’s getting better,” Van Pelt said. “He’s definitely an arrow-pointing-up guy. All the work he’s put in already — from the day he got here in rookie minicamp he’s been working with Coach Callahan and Coach Peters. I’m excited to see if he does get a chance to play this week, how he responds to it.”
Center JC Tretter was rested again with a knee injury. Right tackle Jack Conklin (knee) was limited Sept. 16 after not practicing the day before.
Conklin and Tretter are expected to start against the Texans.
“I’ve worked with Jed all of training camp,” Left guard Joel Bitonio said. “I’m most comfortable with him now. But since Joe Thomas hasn’t been here (Thomas last played in 2017), I’ve played with a lot of tackles. So it’s always a new adventure. But you get reps in practice, and you get work. I think guys are going to be prepared and as long as you get the playbook part of it down, I think we can communicate on game day and figure out where we have to go and block guys.”
Bitonio could play left tackle if Hudson is injured, which would mean inserting Nick Harris or Blake Hance at left guard. More injury news Safety Grant Delpit (hamstring), wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (knee), guard Michael Dunn (back), cornerback Greg Newsome (biceps), linebacker Anthony Walker (hamstring) and wide receiver Anthony Schwartz (knee) were limited.
Texans: Tight end Pharaoh Brown (ankle/shoulder), quarterback Deshaun Watson (not injury related) and linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis (thigh) did not practice. PierreLouis was placed on injured reserve Sept. 16.