Dawand Jones Progressing Through Injury; Expects To Be Back By Training Camp
Dawand Jones is rehabbing from his season-ending knee injury well, he’s on track and expecting to be back soon. Here’s the latest on Jones as OTA’s draw near.
Dawand Jones had a unique journey to becoming a starter in Cleveland as a rookie.
Jones, a fourth-round pick in 2023 out of Ohio State, went into his rookie season as a backup offensive tackle for the Browns. However, played in 712 snaps, allowed just three sacks, and only had two penalties called on him.
It didn’t take long for Jones to find his way onto the field. During the second quarter of the Browns’ first game against the Bengals, starting right tackle Jack Conklin went down with a knee injury, that would be determined as season-ending. Jones finished the first game strong and would make his first career start the very next week in Pittsburgh.
“I never panicked each day I was waiting, you know, I’m sitting there waiting for my name to get called,” Jones said.
Jones would start the next seven games, giving the Browns consistency on the right side of the offensive line. He would miss Cleveland’s week nine matchup against the Cardinals due to a shoulder injury but would get back on the field in Week 10 against the Steelers and start weeks 11 and 12.
On Dec. 7, 2023, three days before the Browns week 14 game against the Jaguars, Jones went down in practice with a knee injury. He would be ruled out for the game and the following week, head coach Kevin Stefanski announced that Jones’ knee injury would require season-ending surgery, ending an impressive rookie season.
It was later determined Jones had his medial collateral ligament and meniscus cartilage repaired in surgery and began recovery. Jones said he’s progressing well from the surgery and is on track.
“Rehab is going well, for the most part,” Jones said. “I’m three months out from surgery so I can’t ask for much more.”
Jones likely will miss Organized Team Activites, beginning on April 15. But he’s expecting to be back in time for training camp at the end of July.
“I’ll probably be back [to 100%] in like July, just cause it’s an injury I never went through and just want to make sure I’m comfortable enough to be on the field and be myself, Jones said.”
Once healthy, it’ll be a battle for Jones to reclaim a starting spot on the offensive line. Cleveland has Jedrick Wills Jr. and Conklin, who’re both coming back from season-ending injuries too.
“That’s a great problem to have,” Stefanski said at the NFL Combine. “I feel awesome about all of our guys but the three guys you’re talking about [Jones, Wills and Conklin] I feel great about.
It will likely be a training camp battle to determine which two players will start to begin the 2024 season. It’ll be hard for the Browns to keep Jones, the 6-foot-8, 374-pound 22-year-old on the bench after showing so much promise and potential during his rookie season.
One player is going to be forced to the bench though come the start of the 2024 season, but Jones isn’t looking that far into the future and only on what he can control.
“Just go to work and just think about the next day,” Jones said when discussing his mindset on starting again.
The Browns will come into the season having added several impact players. The first of which is wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, whom the Browns acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos prior to the start of free agency. Jones is excited for all of the new guys in town and got to meet Jeudy just days ago.
“Happy to see my new teammates, you know, I saw Jerry [Jeudy] the other day.”
One player Cleveland re-signed was defensive end Za’Darius Smith, who complimented Myles Garrett on the defensive line really well in 2023. Smith signed a two-year, $23.5 million contract with the Browns this offseason. Jones has grown close with Smith and is excited for him to be back in Cleveland and go against him in practice every day.
“That’s one of my best friends, that’s one guy I go talk to make sure I’m taken care of as a young guy.”
It will be an important year for Jones to make his mark on the franchise and show them he can be a part of the long-term solution at offensive tackle. From the sound and look of things, he is on the right path to making that happen in 2024.
The Cleveland Browns remain active in free agency and added to their running back room with D’Onta Foreman on Wednesday. The Browns have addressed almost every need on the roster, which should allow them to be flexible in the NFL Draft. The hope is that Nick Chubb returns at some point this season, but they have done an excellent job ensuring they have enough depth at the running back position, allowing Chubb to get fully healthy before returning to the field. Andrew Berry remains steadfast in his pursuit of improving the Browns roster, so we are keeping up with free agency around the league. Here is your updated list of the best available free agents at every position and all the NFL free agency deals signed to date.
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