BEREA, Ohio — Since Wyatt Teller arrived in Cleveland in 2019, he endeared himself to Browns fans thanks to his pancake blocks and videos carrying alligators.

He took over the starting right guard spot that year and never looked back, earning three Pro Bowl nods and two second-team All-Pro selections. He helped Cleveland develop one of the strongest run games in the league at the time as one of the best pulling guards in the NFL, and even signed a four-year, $56.8 million extension in 2021.

So if this is the end of Teller’s time in Cleveland, all of that is to say, it’s been a pretty solid era.

“I’m not sure if there’s a lot of nervousness because I just feel like I’ve always trusted God’s way,” Teller said on Wednesday. “And I would love a little bit more confidence going in, but everything’s going to be OK. If no teams call, it’s going to be all right. If a bunch of teams call, it’s going to be great.”

Teller was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday, after re-aggravating a calf strain against the Pittsburgh Steelers that kept him out the prior three games. It’s an ending to his 2025 season that he said is “disappointing.”

The 31-year-old is set to hit free agency this offseason, something Teller said he hasn’t been focused on in recent weeks as he worked to rehab his calf.

“Other than being ruled out this week, I mean I was so focused on the season,” Teller said. “I haven’t been talking to my agent about that. Usually I focus on the ball and let him focus on that. But yeah, no, like I said, it’s a frustrating ending, so it’s going to be a hard sell, but hopefully I find a home.”

Prior to Teller’s calf acting up in Week 13 against the San Francisco 49ers, the writing for his future in Cleveland seemed to be on the wall. In that game, the Browns had him splitting series with Teven Jenkins. That game was also his 100th career start.

Before the trade deadline in early November, Teller sounded decidedly more optimistic about his future in Cleveland, saying he hoped to retire as a Brown.

While that’s still true, it’s evident that Teller also understands the realities of the business. Understandable for a player the Bills drafted in 2018 but then traded to Cleveland shortly before the start of the 2019 season.

“I mean I feel like that’d be the best,” Teller said on Wednesday when asked once again if he hoped to retire in Cleveland. “Family’s already here.”

Does he think that Sunday against the Steelers was his final game in a Browns jersey?

“I mean, I was emotional at gameday just because you start getting a bunch of emotions just being on that field,” Teller said. “But no, yes, no, right? I’m not — I don’t want it to be, but if it is, it is. And I enjoyed our time here.”

In the NFL, teams can never say never. And in Teller’s case, it’s worth considering the Browns may have to remake most of, if not their entire offensive line. Four of the five Week 1 starters are free agents and the fifth, left tackle Dawand Jones, suffered his third season-ending injury in three years against the Packers in Week 3.

Left guard Joel Bitonio, who has stated he doesn’t plan to play elsewhere at any point in his career, will once again contemplate retirement this offseason.

Right tackle Jack Conklin has dealt with injury all season and was placed on season-ending IR two weeks ago with a concussion.

Center Ethan Pocic will need to recover from a torn Achilles before he can play again, and as he hits free agency, could come at a steep discount for the Browns if they wish to bring him back.

Does it feel like the end of an era for a core group that’s been together for three seasons?

“I mean, we just spent a lot of time together, but it doesn’t mean anything,” Teller said. “You never know how an offseason shakes up.”

Even if it is the end, Browns fans will always have the pancakes and alligators to remember Teller by.

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