Injuries to three more offensive tackles could lead Browns to add a veteran

Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.

Post-game takeaways from Browns’ 27-12 loss to the Minnesota Vikings …

1. Tackle problems intensify: James Hudson left the locker room with his left foot in a walking boot protecting an ankle injury. Hakeem Adeniji left on crutches and his injured right knee in a brace. And Germain Ifedi has a finger injury. So the tackle situation went from bad to worse in a 27-12 loss to the Vikings. With Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin still mired on the PUP list, the Browns may soon be calling an unsigned tackle. Among the familiar names available are Donovan Smith, D.J. Humphries, Jason Peters, Billy Turner, Riley Reiff and Duane Brown. Coach Kevin Stefanski offered no insight on if Wills or Conklin could be cleared to practice soon. “When they’re ready, they’ll be ready,” he said. “They’re both locked in, working very hard, and we’ll get them back when they’re back.” The last tackles standing on Saturday were Lorenzo Thompson and Nigerian international-designee Roy Mbaeteka. Right tackles Dawand Jones got the night off after practicing all week. Would the shortage at tackle change Stefanski’s plan to play Deshaun Watson in the preseason finale in Seattle? “We’ll see. The plan is for Deshaun to play,” Stefanski said.

2. QB3 battle update: Quarterbacks Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tyler Huntley took no team snaps in the joint practices with the Vikings, so they’ll be graded on a curve for their performances in the game. Further, losing three offensive tackles during the game made it more difficult for them to move the ball. But if DTR held an advantage for the QB3 role going in based on his first game’s work, he probably widened it. DTR produced one touchdown in a 13-of-17 passing game for 126 yards. He made a good throw to rookie Jamari Thrash on a fourth-and-2 conversion and immediately followed with a good scramble to extend a play and draw a pass interference in the end zone to set up D’Onta Foreman’s 1-yard TD plunge. DTR threw one interception when he threw behind Thrash trying to set up a field goal in the waning seconds of the first half. Huntley was 14 of 20 for 135 yards and was intercepted twice. He also led the Browns with 19 yards rushing. “I’m trying to win a game, not worried about a job,” DTR said afterwards. He attributed the interception to lack of work during the week. “Without practice reps, it’s kind of hard to get that timing down.” Overall, DTR is playing with more poise and control than a year ago as a rookie. “I’m just trying to operate out there and execute the offense,” he said. “I’m trying not to do it all by myself.”

3. Don’t jump to conclusions: Stefanski had offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey calling plays in the first half. “Yeah, we had other assistants call them as well and did the same thing the first game,” he said. No, he’s not reconsidering his plan to be his own play-caller again.

4. Thrash flash: Rookie receiver Jamari Thrash was DTR’s favorite target in the first half. Thrash had 3 catches on 5 targets. His best grab was on a slant on fourth-and-2 that Thrash advanced 15 yards on the lone TD drive. “He did a good job releasing off the line,” DTR said. “I just gave him a body ball to work with. I was proud of Thrash, understanding the situation, the down and distance. Working the dude at the line and to be able to get inside him. I was more so happy with Thrash [than the throw].”

5. Rookie ups and downs: Rookie cornerback Myles Harden had a good week of practice against the Vikings. “It was straight,” he clarified. But in the game, Harden was victimized on a Jarren Hall play-fake that resulted in a pass over his head and 71-yard touchdown by undrafted rookie free agent Jeshaun Jones. “Ruined my whole week,” Harden said afterward. “They ran the same play two times in a row before that and ran the ball.” Welcome to the NFL.

6. Jolly ole St. Nick: Nick Mullens has a chance to get some play time for the Vikings after the season-ending injury to rookie J.J. McCarthy. Designated starter Sam Darnold had the night off and Mullens put together three scoring drives in his first half work. The last time he played in Browns Stadium, Mullens was an emergency QB for the Browns against the Oakland Raiders on a cold December Monday in 2021 when Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum and 11 other starters were stricken with COVID. Mullens gave the Browns a 14-13 lead with a great drive in the fourth quarter, but the Browns’ defense couldn’t stop a game-winning Oakland field goal drive. That will go down as the only appearance for the Browns in Mullens’ career. “I really enjoyed my time in Cleveland,” Mullens said. “The scheme, the team and the city. You never know what your next opportunity will come from. And in that case, COVID, … and I was like ‘Wow! I’m starting a game here.’ We lost that game, but it was a fun memory, for sure.”