BEREA, Ohio — Shedeur Sanders will have two new starters on the right side of the line for his third career start Sunday vs. the Titans.
Right tackle Jack Conklin has been ruled out with his concussion and will be replaced by second-year pro K.T. Leveston, and right guard Wyatt Teller is out with his calf injury, and will be replaced by fifth-year pro Teven Jenkins.
While Leveston will making just his third career start, Jenkins has started 38 games for the Bears, serving as a three-year starter for them at left and right guard.
It marks the 10th starting line combination for the Browns this season.
“It’s really how we finished in the (loss to the 49ers),” Kevin Stefanski said. “So, feel good about those guys.”
Stefanski noted that the Browns traded for Leveston in late August, but that he’s now acclimated to the team and the scheme.
“Obviously he wasn’t with us through the spring and the summer, but he’s played meaningful snaps for us,” Stefanski said. “He’s somebody that we trust, brings a great physicality to the game, so fits in well.”
Leveston also started earlier this season against the Lions and Vikings, and has served as an extra blocker. Jenkins alternated series last week with Teller, and played well. He graded out as the No. 4 offensive player on the team with a 72.6 mark, according to Pro Football Focus. Teller graded out first at 83.9, and Leveston fifth at 69.6.
Sanders, who held the ball for 3.37 seconds vs. the 49ers for longest by a Browns quarterback in three years, was sacked three times. The Titans have a number of good pass-rushers, including Jeffery Simmons (6.5 sacks), Jihad Ward (4.5 sacks) and Arden Key (4.0) sacks. He’ll have to trust his eyes and his receivers more this week, and get the ball out quicker.
Mason Graham says he’ll play
Graham said he suffered his rib injury last week against the 49ers, but pushed through it. He was limited on Thursday and sat out Friday, but said he’ll play Sunday.
“I didn’t really feel it much during the game,” Graham said. “But after the game I felt it and then just figured a little something out and I’ll play on Sunday, though.”
He’s never been one to miss much time.
“Yeah, I’ve always been like that,” he said. “Want to be on the field with my guys, but sometimes you can’t be out there all the time, but I’ll be out there when it matters on Sunday.”
Sunday will mark the first game without defensive tackle Maliek Collins, who was playing at a Pro Bowl level.
“Even with him playing, I want to be another guy that can make a name for himself, too,” Graham said. “But with him being down, I’m more of the next man up that needs to step up and make more plays like he has this year.”
The Browns also signed defensive tackle Sam Kamara off the practice squad, and will use Mike Hall Jr. more if his knee feels okay. He was added to the injury report on Thursday as limited, and listed as questionable, but is expected to play.
“Yeah, just something happened yesterday at practice, but he’s battling,” Stefanski said.
He had high praise for Kamara, who’s excelled in practice but got caught up in a numbers game at a deep position.
“Yeah, Sam’s done a terrific job since he’s been here of providing great value to this football team,” he said. “When he plays, when he’s out there at practice, he’s an outstanding practice player for us, and he’s given us incredible looks. Our offense, he’s given them incredible looks, just how competitive he is in these types of periods. And then when we had him up in games, he’s made plays, including in the last one. So, he’s a really valuable member of our group.”
The Browns also have defensive end Isaiah McGuire questionable with a knee injury, but Alex Wright is back from his quad injury with no injury designation.
Devin Bush and Dylan Sampson also questionable
Bush (foot) and Sampson (calf) returned to practice on a limited basis and are both questionable.
Stefanski praises Grant Delpit for his big honor
Stefanaki praised Delpit for being named the Browns Walter Payton Man of the Year
“Very, very deserving for Grant,” he said. “I’ve gotten to see Grant come in here as a young player and mature on the field, off the field, and what he brings to this football team really is immeasurable on the field. The physicality with which he plays, he is a DNA match for who we are, just embodies who we are on the field and then off the field, same, just the person that he is. He knows the platform that he has in this community and he takes it seriously. So, I applaud Grant. I think it’s a great honor for him and his family.”
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