Last year, Geron Christian was at a family Halloween party when he got the call that the Cleveland Browns wanted to add him to their practice squad. Upon arrival, Christian quickly went from emergency option to starting left tackle for a playoff team.
This week, he got a familiar text message — and eventually a familiar flight. Christian checked his phone after finishing a workout Monday to see that the Browns wanted him back, and Tuesday morning they officially signed Christian to their active roster from the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad.
The 2-8 Browns play Thursday night against the 8-2 Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach Kevin Stefanski said it’s “unlikely” that Christian would play in that game, but the lineman landed in Cleveland at 5 a.m. Tuesday intent on getting himself ready if called upon.
“I left (Los Angeles) around 9 o’clock Monday night,” Christian said. “Just getting my mind right. I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces and feel like I know everything (with the playbook), so we’ll see what happens.”
Stefanski isn’t sharing the Browns’ left tackle plans for Thursday for strategy reasons, though there’s at least a little bit of uncertainty involved. Dawand Jones was lost for the season Sunday to a fractured fibula, and Christian took the roster spot that became available when Jones was officially placed on injured reserve Tuesday. Jedrick Wills Jr. will likely return to the starting lineup if he’s healthy enough to play. Stefanski said Wills would “try” to practice Tuesday afternoon, and the team later listed him as limited after he was listed as a non-participant on Monday’s estimated injury report.
Germain Ifedi, who’s played as a backup at both tackle spots this season, would likely be the starter if Wills can’t play. Earlier this season, Pro Bowl left guard Joel Bitonio was the emergency option at left tackle, his college position. Bitonio said he started “counting tackles” after Jones’ injury to see if he might be called back to play left tackle.
It would be easy to lose count at this point. Jones and James Hudson III are on season-ending injured reserve, and Wills still isn’t healthy from a knee injury last November that led to the Browns promoting Christian. Wills participated in practice last week but was announced as out on Saturday after a flare-up of the knee issue.
Last week, Stefanski said he “wouldn’t characterize (Wills’ sporadic availability this season) as a setback” and said the tackle had a “tough rehab.” With Jones now out, too, Christian was a sensible addition given that he started the final nine games and the playoff matchup last season for the Browns.
Christian had been on the Rams’ practice squad and was elevated to the active roster for their Week 11 game. He’d been signed by the Rams in September and was cut in October after making one game appearance.
The Browns went through a stretch in September and October during which they had a different starting offensive line for six straight games. Jones was benched as the right tackle in Week 6 but started the last three games at left tackle.
Wills told reporters earlier this month that he’d made a “business decision” to sit out against Baltimore in Week 8 because he wasn’t healthy, but he went through practice last week after Cleveland’s bye as if he’d be ready to return. He wasn’t. Stefanski said after Sunday’s game that Wills might play this week and wouldn’t be inactive for what the coach called “a poor choice of words.”
A day ahead of the Pittsburgh game, Wills is probably truly questionable. Ifedi, as has been the case all season, will be prepped to potentially play both tackle spots. It could go all the way to Thursday afternoon before the Browns know if they’ll need the new-ish guy to be in uniform.
“I’ll be ready to play if they need me,” Christian said.
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Less than pleasant weather
AccuWeather says wind gusts could reach 38 mph with “periods of rain” and a 91 percent chance of precipitation Thursday night. Temperature at kickoff is expected to be 37 degrees.
Historically, strong — and often swirling — winds on the shores of Lake Erie have affected kickers and passers. It’s a true AFC North forecast for the Steelers’ second division battle in four days.
“It should always be running weather,” Browns running back Nick Chubb said.
Stefanski said Chubb played only 22 snaps Sunday in New Orleans with the short turnaround in mind. Chubb returned in mid-October for the first time in 13 months since he suffered multiple knee injuries that required two surgeries after a hit by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. But Chubb said he’s not thinking about that — or anything in the past — as he tries to help the Browns play spoiler Thursday night.
“Just a normal game for me, approach it the same way,” Chubb said. “Looking forward to going out and playing against a great team.”
Chubb ran 11 times for 50 yards on Sunday, upping his season average to 3.1 yards per carry. Maybe running weather will lead to the Browns upping Chubb’s opportunities this week. Jameis Winston has had at least 41 pass attempts in each of his three starts. The Steelers are tied for fifth in opponent yards per rush at 4.1 and are eighth in EPA per opponent rush at 1.3.
Winston threw for 395 yards and no interceptions against the Saints after throwing three picks in the Browns’ pre-bye loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Thursday will mark Winston’s fourth start with Cleveland and 84th of his career, but he said it will be his first versus the Steelers.
“I think Jameis continues to get better as he becomes more comfortable,” Stefanski said. “I thought the pass protection in the last game was good, which allowed him to get through his progressions and get the ball, spread the ball around to guys. I think that’s another big piece of this. When you can utilize all of your guys, I think it makes you more difficult to defend.”
Taking the coaching temperature
With the Browns reeling and set to face the first-place Steelers in two of their next three games, Stefanski was asked Tuesday if he hears external talk about potentially being on the hot seat a year after winning his second NFL Coach of the Year award.
“I think probably because I grew up listening to (sports radio), I’m smart enough to not worry about outside noise,” Stefanski said. “I get that’s part of this gig. That’s life in the big city. My sole focus is getting this team ready to get a win on Thursday night. That’s it.”
The Browns have won their last eight Thursday night home games, two of which have come against the Steelers. The teams have split their meetings in each of the last three seasons. They play again on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh.
(Photo of Jedrick Wills Jr.: Jeff Lange / USA Today via Imagn Images)
