Browns RT Dawand Jones back practicing, but James Hudson III, Geron Christian remain ready

BEREA — Dawand Jones said there's only one person standing between him and his return to the Browns lineup at right tackle.

"It's really up to me, you know what I mean?" Jones said Thursday. "Have to see if I can perform to how I know I need to perform."

The only way for Jones, who's been battling a knee injury, to do that is to be on the field. That's exactly where Jones found himself Thursday afternoon, as he was a limited practice participant for the first time since before a Nov. 5 win over the Arizona Cardinals.

What does that mean for Jones with regards to playing in Sunday's home AFC North showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers? That should become much clear Friday when the Browns announce the game statuses for any injured players.

For now, Jones is continuing to do what he can to try to limit the number of games he missed to just last Sunday's win at the Baltimore Ravens. And if he can't play, what is he trying to do for his replacement, third-year pro James Hudson III?

"Make sure I just help," Jones said. "Of course I played against the person we're playing against (Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt). I just want to make sure he knows all of his weaknesses and his tendencies and what he wants to do and how he want to do it."

Then again, Hudson may not necessarily need much of a scouting report when it comes to Watt. He's become quite familiar with the former Defensive Player of the Year in what is still a reasonably young NFL career.

If Jones can't play against Pittsburgh, which is still not officially off the table, Hudson would make his fourth career start — out of nine overall starts — against the Steelers. It would be the third time he's had to contend with Watt.

Watt has recorded 16 career sacks against the Browns. Of those, 4.5 have come in the previous two times he has lined up against Hudson, in Week 17 in 2021 and in last season's finale.

"Obviously, I've used every opportunity that I had to go against him as a teaching lesson, take things from him and so I don't let them happen again," Hudson said. "I'm just coming out there working. My coaches are helping me get prepared to be ready for Sunday."

Jones made his first NFL start in Week 2 in Pittsburgh after Jack Conklin suffered a season-ending tear to the ACL and MCL in his left knee. That was the first of what has been multiple injuries to the Browns' tackle spots.

It came to a head last week against the Ravens, with Jones out with shoulder and knee injuries and left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. on injured reserve after suffering an MCL sprain in a win over the Cardinals.

That left the Browns with two new tackles: Hudson at right tackle and Geron Christian at left. While Hudson was drafted by the Browns in 2021, Christian wasn't even on the active roster until the Tuesday before the Baltimore game.

Now, Christian is expected to be in the lineup for the second consecutive game.

"I feel like I'm taking a big step obviously after playing last week," Christian said. "I got some reps and then just having, what, seven more days to learn the system, I feel like it's playing a big part. I feel way more comfortable."

Christian dealt with multiple Ravens edge rushers last week, allowing just one sack and two pressures on 49 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus. This week, he'll be dealing with Steelers edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who won AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors the last time he played the Browns with an interception returned for a touchdown, a strip-sack that Watt returned for a score, a quarterback hit and a quarterback hurry.

There is an advantage the sixth-year pro has, though, against Highsmith. He saw him earlier this season when he played 33 snaps at left tackle for the Houston Texans — not allowing a single pressure by Highsmith — in a 30-6 Week 4 rout of the Steelers.

"He's a smart player, high motor," Christian said of Highsmith said. "He gives great effort. So, I mean, you may think you got him blocked, and he's going to keep working. He'll come with a counter. Obviously he has a real good spin. So just effort, don't give up on the plays."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns backups tackles ready for Steelers with or without Dawand Jones