Teven Jenkins injury gives Browns an early look at their offensive line of the future

Following Day 2 of the NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns head coach Todd Monken highlighted the versatility of third-round pick Austin Barber. He was a career left tackle for the Florida Gators, but Monken and Browns’ leadership saw a path to him potentially helping the team at guard as well.

“We see him as a tackle to start, obviously has some flex,” Monken told reporters back on April 24. “We think he could move inside.”

Did the Browns think they were drafting their starting right guard for Week 1 of the regular season that day? Definitely not. 

But Teven Jenkins injuring his back this week, coupled with Barber’s late-preseason surge, could give the Browns a glimpse into their future in the early stages of 2026.

Monken confirmed that Barber will start at right guard in place of Jenkins for Sunday's season opener at Jacksonville. Jenkins was ruled out for the Jaguars game on Friday’s official injury report.

Barber’s new role felt possible on the eve of camp but quickly lost steam as veteran KT Leveston took valuable reps at guard with Barber opening as the clear backup to Tytus Howard at right tackle.

But Leveston's own transition from tackle to guard was uninspiring enough that Barber got the nod as the starting right guard in Cleveland’s second preseason game. He played so well against Buffalo that day that he started in that same spot again in preseason Game 3 against the Patriots.

Now, he’s one of two rookies set to start Sunday’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with first-round left tackle Spencer Fano.

Fano firmly believes his draftmate is ready for the challenge.

“I’m so excited,” he told Browns reporter Camryn Justice Friday. “Me and Austin really have the same mindset ever since coming in here which is we’ve just been trying to get better every day and find our role. And, I don’t know, it’s crazy being on this end of it from where we started in the spring. It’s been awesome.”

Austin Barber can turn an emergency start into a long-term Browns opportunity

Barber projects as Cleveland’s long-term solution at right tackle, but he looked so natural at guard during the preseason that these next few weeks could be interesting.

He was Cleveland’s top-rated offensive player by Pro Football Focus’ metrics, compiling a pass-blocking grade of 76.4 and a run-blocking grade of 80.5.

Right guard is typically where the team will place their best run blocker and tight end, especially for a right-handed quarterback like Deshaun Watson due to his natural hand-off motion. Barber’s athleticism and ability to climb to the second level to bulldoze smaller linebackers and defensive backs was on display during the preseason.

Jenkins has been the frontrunner to open the season as the starting right guard since the Browns held their first veterans-only minicamp in April. Jenkins missed a handful of practices during camp with an undisclosed injury, though, and right guard is the one offensive position Monken never committed to.

Even prior to Wednesday’s practice this week, Monken told reporters that Jenkins was expected to be their starter but he still wanted "to see it play out the rest of the week."

The question now is whether Barber ever gives that job back. The Browns obviously want to give their young players opportunities, and if Barber continues to look like he belongs out there, he will almost certainly remain with the starting group until that changes.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow