The Browns’ latest roster churn didn’t touch the active 53, but it did shine a brighter light on the one area that keeps demanding attention: the offensive line.
Cleveland signed guard Austin Blaske and tackle Xavier Truss to the practice squad during the week, then moved on from tackle Andrew Coker and guard Vershon Lee. On paper, those are practice-squad swaps. In reality, they land at a time when the Browns are trying to steady a line that has been under constant pressure.
The numbers tell the story. Cleveland heads the league in sacks allowed by a wide margin after giving up eight more in its second eight-sack game of the season. The Browns are up to 33 sacks allowed, while seven teams are tied for second at 23.
The ground game hasn’t given the offense much relief, either.
That’s why the moves matter, even if they don’t immediately change the lineup. The Browns are still searching for a starting five that can function as a unit, and the shuffle on the practice squad suggests the team is keeping its options open behind the scenes. Blaske and Truss may not be next in line for snaps, but their arrivals hint that Cleveland is at least preparing for possible changes up front.
Right tackle Tytus Howard and left guard Zion Johnson have drawn the most criticism as the weakest spots on a line that also includes two rookies. Teven Jenkins, who was expected to start before the season, has not played a snap and is on IR. Behind them, Dawand Jones at tackle, KT Leveston at guard and rookie Parker Brailsford at center could be nearing a chance to get into the lineup.
If that happens, the depth chart behind the starters could shift as well, which is where Blaske and Truss come into the picture. The Browns may be looking for more than just emergency depth; they may be looking for the next combination that actually works.
Moving on from Howard or Johnson after only half a season would be tough because of the dead cap hits Cleveland would take next year. But giving Jones or Leveston a shot to see whether they fit better with the rest of the group makes sense, and so does checking out other depth options with an eye toward the future.
Because whatever the Browns are building up front, they know they can’t keep rolling with the line exactly as it is now.
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