The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for their first real practice ahead of Thursday night’s AFC North showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and there have been some injury developments along the offensive line.
Starter center Elgton Jenkins was not spotted by reporters on Tuesday after he was listed on the team’s initial Week 4 practice report with a concussion. His absence has backup Luke Wypler in line to start his first game of the season.
The question now is who will be lining up to Wypler’s right during Thursday's game.
Browns rookie Austin Barber has started at right guard in each of Cleveland’s first three games and has held up extremely well. He’s been called for two penalties, which is a problem permeating the entire offense right now, but has performed well enough to earn an extended look.
Head coach Todd Monken said earlier this month that he sees Barber keeping the job even when veteran Teven Jenkins, the team’s presumed starting right guard throughout training camp, returns from the back injury that forced him to miss the team's first three games.
We could find out exactly where Monken stands on that front this week, as Jenkins was back on the practice field Tuesday for the first time since the team’s prep for Week 1.
Teven Jenkins' return could put Austin Barber's hold on the starting job to the test
It’s unclear how close Teven Jenkins really is to playing. He was estimated as a nonparticipant following Monday’s walkthrough.
Barber will almost certainly remain the starter against the Steelers on Thursday night, but he’ll have heightened pressure to perform going forward with Teven Jenkins back in the mix.
The Browns have continued to list Teven Jenkins as their starter at right guard on each week’s unofficial depth chart, which at least hints at what has been an unsettled position from the start of the offseason program.
Barber didn’t allow a single pressure in pass protection over his first two starts, but his play dipped a bit in Sunday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. He had a brutal false start penalty on a third-and-1 situation at the Panthers 36, part of a mind-numbing 13-play drive that wound up ending in a punt.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson was constantly under siege against Carolina — he was pressured on 54% of his dropbacks, per Zac Jackson of The Athletic — and Barber had his toughest day in pass protection. Pro Football Focus charged Barber with three pressures, two hurries, one QB hit, and an overall grade of 42.7.
We’re talking about a rookie who’s learning a new position here, as Barber played left tackle for the Florida Gators and still projects as the Browns’ long-term solution at right tackle.
But the Steelers present a formidable defensive front that’s loaded with veterans, and with Teven Jenkins lurking over his shoulder again, Barber is about to face the stiffest test yet of his young career.
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