Cleveland Browns: 5 biggest injury risks in 2021
By Sam Penix
![Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney runs drills during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. [Jeff Lange / Akron Beacon Journal]Browns 10](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F16263261-850x560-61582a815239cbbf3b3f0bf58db3deed22fe809bb9d9ef0181dbd354491faf6b.jpg "Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney runs drills during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. [Jeff Lange / Akron Beacon Journal]Browns 10")
Five Cleveland Browns players with injury concerns in 2021
By most accounts, the Cleveland Browns have one of the most complete rosters in the entire NFL, and are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. To achieve that ultimate goal, however, they’ll need to stay healthy, and there are quite a few players with concerning injury histories. Here are five that necessitate some worry ahead of the 2021 season.
5. Jack Conklin
When the Browns gave Conklin a three-year $42 million contract, they likely thought they were getting one of the better right tackles in the league, rather than the best. Conklin was very good over four years with the Tennessee Titans, but had the best season of his career in 2020 with Cleveland. He was named a first-team All-Pro and was a major reason for the team’s elite rushing attack.
Despite high-level play in 2016 and 2018, the Titans declined Conklin’s fifth-year option for two reasons; financial shortcomings and Conklins’ injuries. He tore his ACL in the 2017 playoffs, and another knee injury ended his 2018 season. Conklin obviously bounced back in a huge way in 2020, but he was also banged up at times.
Conklin did not play in Week 2 due to finger and ankle injuries and hurt his hamstring in the wild card round which limited him to only 17 snaps.
Thankfully, Conklin’s knees were not an issue in 2020, and that will hopefully be the case again in 2021. Having super backup Chris Hubbard as his primary replacement is a good thing, but ideally, Hubbard never sees the field.