Browns new tackles, Geron Christian and James Hudson III, taking roles 'day by day'

BEREA — The news that Jedrick Wills Jr. was not going to be back this season was obviously significant to Geron Christian. However, the man who replaced Wills as the Browns left tackle acknowledged it wasn't the earth-shaking bombshell it seemed like to some others.

"It's just day by day," Christian told the Beacon Journal this week. "I mean, obviously, it gave me the opportunity to be on the field right now, but it's just really next man up. If he was to come back, regardless if it would've been tomorrow or in two weeks or even next year, I got to have the same preparation. Just be ready to go."

Christian is a sixth-year pro who will be making his sixth consecutive start at left tackle for the Browns on Sunday when they play host to the Chicago Bears. Considering the various injuries which have shuffled around the offensive line, it practically makes him an established piece.

The Browns have already started five different offensive line combinations this season. A sixth different one is a legitimate possibility depending on the status of center Ethan Pocic (stinger), whom head coach Kevin Stefanski didn't want to give a definitive status for early in the week.

That's how a Christian, who wasn't even in the organization until Halloween, can become a stalwart member of the offensive line. He was signed on Oct. 31 to the practice squad, added to the active roster on Nov. 7 when Willis originally went on injured reserve with a sprained MCL and made his first start Nov. 12 at the Baltimore Ravens.

"I think just overall, as far as the overall position, this offensive line, we just spent so much time together," Christian said. "Even with me just coming in or when you get new guys in, it's like you barely even notice that they're new. You know what I'm saying? Obviously it takes getting caught up to speed, but we all just kind of mesh well together. I think it's just the nature of the position, obviously, even with other teams in the past that I've went to, I feel like the offensive line always gets along well, if that makes sense."

Willis' season-ending knee surgery wasn't the only one for the Browns offensive line this week. Right tackle Dawand Jones sustained a torn MCL last Thursday and will require surgery, the second starting right tackle lost to a season-ending knee injury — Jack Conklin was lost in the opener — this season.

That makes James Hudson III, who started the season as the backup swing tackle, the third starting right tackle of the season. For Hudson, it's not a new experience.

Sunday will be the fourth time in the last six weeks Hudson has started in place of Jones. However, it'll be the 11th time over his three-year career he's started there, either for Conklin or, now, Jones.

"It's definitely going to help a lot," Hudson told the Beacon Journal. "Just being out there, being out there with the guys, them trusting more, me being able to trust myself more. Building that confidence is just going to help a lot."

The two backup-turn-starting tackles will be under the microscope yet again this week against the Bears. Then again, that's been the story for them with the various edge rushers they've dealt with each week.

The Bears have been a much better defensive team since Week 9, which just happens to coincide with when they acquired defensive end Montez Sweat from the Washington Commanders. Since then, they've allowed a opponents to a league-low 70.7 passer rating, 18.2 points a game (eighth in league), 91.6 rushing yards (sixth in the league), 287.8 total yards a game (fourth in the league) and 11 takeaways (third).

"It's definitely going to be a challenge, man," Hudson said. "I mean, they're rolling right now. They won three of their last four, so I mean, it's definitely going to be a challenge for us, man. We just got to go out there and be us and do our job."

Beyond that, Chicago has recorded 11 sacks starting in Week 10, after having just 10 total over the first nine weeks of the season. Sweat has been responsible for 3.5 of those sacks, giving him a combined 10 between both Washington and Chicago.

However, the Bears line did sustain a significant hit when their other end, Yannick Ngakoue, sustained a season-ending broken ankle this past week against the Detroit Lions. That means more snaps for Rasheem Green, DeMarcus Walker and, potentially, former Canton McKinley standout Dominique Robinson.

"I don't think it really makes a big difference," Christian said of Ngakoue's absence. "Obviously these past few weeks they've been picking it up a lot and been doing a lot of good things on defense. They show a lot of different looks, but they rotate. They got good backups as well. So I mean, it's just staying focusing and just being prepared for whoever possibly be out there."

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: Geron Christian, James Hudson III take Browns tackle roles day by day