The Browns’ offensive line spent the first month of the season tripping over its own feet. Now, with five new starters on the front - including two rookies - the group is starting to look a lot more organized, and the difference has been clear in the penalty column.
Week 6 brought the cleanest outing yet. Cleveland’s offensive line was flagged only twice, and just one of those penalties was accepted. After the mess that opened the year, that counts as real progress.
The early weeks were ugly. In the season opener, the offense drew six penalties, with Deshaun Watson taking two delay-of-game flags and Zion Johnson, Tytus Howard and Blake Whiteheart each getting hit for pre-snap mistakes.
The next week against Tampa Bay brought five offensive penalties, three of them accepted. Week 3 against Carolina was even worse in a different way, with six more penalties and three of them on Howard alone.
The Browns kept stacking up self-inflicted damage after that. They were penalized four times in Week 4 against Pittsburgh, with two accepted and only two on the offensive line, then picked up four more in Week 5 against the Jets, including two additional delay-of-game calls.
That’s why the recent cleanup matters. This was always going to take time, and now the unit is finally showing signs it can function with fewer breakdowns before the snap.
The development is especially notable because the Browns had to navigate some moving pieces along the way. Elgton Jenkins missed the win over the Steelers with a concussion, and Luke Wypler held his own.
Howard also missed most of Week 5, while Dawand Jones was flagged once in his 33 snaps, per Pro Football Focus.
There have been individual bright spots, too. Zion Johnson has been much better than advertised, showing the athleticism that made him intriguing in the first place.
Maybe he just needed a new setting and system to tap into it. Howard has been the weakest link, but even he has been mostly a positive.
Through six weeks, the numbers back up the eye test. In PFF’s rankings, Elgton Jenkins sits No. 16 among 35 centers.
Rookie Austin Barber and Zion Johnson are No. 19 and No. 23 among 77 guards. Spencer Fano, another rookie, is No. 27 among 74 eligible tackles, with Howard at No.
There’s still work to do, especially in the running game. But after so many drives were sabotaged by avoidable mistakes, the Browns are at least moving in the right direction.
In Other News...
Former Browns Are Giving Cleveland Fans Plenty To Think About
A few former Browns are making their mark in new places, and not every update is the kind Cleveland fans would want to see. Some of the names are familiar enough to feel personal, because these were players who helped shape the roster here before moving on, and their new situations are a reminder of how quickly the league can turn over a core. David Njoku has spent most of his time on injured reserve with the Chargers, while Dalvin Tomlinsons name has already come up as a possible trade chip.
Other departures have looked better from a Browns perspective, at least on the field. Martin Emerson Jr. has settled in well with the Saints, Devin Bush is playing at a strong level with the Bears, and Wyatt Tellers role with the Texans has taken a different turn after being benched. For Cleveland, it is the kind of cross-check that keeps the front office and the fan base thinking about what was lost, what was moved on from too soon, and which of those moves might still come back into focus later. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Could Use Rams Pick On A Huge First Round Gamble
The Browns are sitting in a spot where the franchises next big move could come from the first round, and the conversation is already turning toward how they might use those two picks. With Cleveland in position to host a playoff game, the front office has enough breathing room to think bigger than just filling holes, which is why quarterback speculation is front and center again. NFL Spin Zones Sayre Bedinger floated a bold pairing for the Browns: quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and defensive tackle Devan Thompkins.
It is the kind of mock draft idea that fits Clevelands current crossroads, where roster strength and long-term planning are pulling in different directions. A quarterback addition would instantly raise the stakes around the organizations future, while a defensive tackle selection would speak to the kind of front-seven investment the coaching staff tends to value. Of course, draft boards can shift quickly, and team needs may look very different by the time the Browns are actually on the clock. [Read more 🡒]
Browns Get A Crucial Titans Boost As New Depth Questions Emerge
The Browns got a bit of help on both sides of the ball ahead of their Week 7 meeting with the Titans, activating running back Dylan Sampson from injured reserve and bringing up defensive tackle Sam Kamara from the practice squad. The moves give Cleveland a little more flexibility as it works through the kind of roster juggling that tends to come with this point in the season, especially with injuries already affecting the depth chart.
Teven Jenkins landing on injured reserve because of a back injury is the kind of setback that can quietly reshape a game plan, and it adds another layer of concern to an offensive line that has had to absorb some recent hits. On the brighter side, safety Grant Delpit has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play, giving the Browns at least one important piece back as they try to keep the roster stable heading into Tennessee. [Read more 🡒]