Dawgs By Nature
The Cleveland Browns have had issues with their offensive line all season. After training camp, it appeared this group would regain that prominence they had back when offensive line coach Bill Callahan was in-house.
Except for LT Jed Wills, it was the same guys who were named the #2 unit back in 2023. And with Dawand Jones now the left tackle, that appeared to be an upgrade.
RELATED: BROWNS LOSE ANOTHER O-LINEMAN TO SEASON-ENDING INJURY
But as the season rolled along, things changed. Jones became hurt – again. This time it was a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee and a hamstring avulsion. This placed him on IR. He has been in the league three seasons, and has found IR his home all three years.
RT Jack Conklin had an elbow injury, followed by being in concussion protocol. His neighbor, RG Wyatt Teller, is dealing with a calf strain.
All that remained from this once prestigious group was C Ethan Pocic and seven-time Pro Bowl LG Joel Bitonio.
Until this weekend, that is.
In the fourth quarter of the loss to the previously one-win Tennessee Titans, Pocic went down to the turf holding his leg. He had torn his Achilles’ tendon.
An Achilles injury is usually a nine-month process and is quite serious. It occurs in the back of the ankle and usually needs surgery, followed by immobilization and physical therapy. With four games remaining on the schedule, Pocic won’t return and is set for free agency.
Already, the Browns are using Cam Robinson at LT, inserted KT Leveston at RT, and used Teven Jenkins at Wyatt’s RG spot. That’s three backups now starting.
And now Pocic is out? He was the offensive line’s rock. Through Week 11, he played every offensive snap. He left the San Francisco 49ers game late because Cleveland was getting killed. His backup, Luke Wypler, came in for seven snaps to close out the game and get some experience.
When Pocic went out against the Titans, Wypler came in and played 24 snaps. He did pretty well considering he hasn’t had much live game experience.
Pocic signed a three-year, $18 million contract extension in 2023 and then suffered a knee injury in Week 11. He was placed on IR on November 22 and then activated on December 23, but has been healthy ever since.
Wypler was drafted that same year in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft out of Ohio State University.
And now, he is the next man up.
Wypler (6′-3”, 300 pounds) played center, tackle, and defensive tackle at powerhouse St. Joseph’s Regional High School in Montvale, New Jersey. He had good speed, clocked at 4.85 in the 40, with his weight at 280 pounds. He could bench 340 pounds with a deadlift of 575 pounds. Wypler also played lacrosse and was on his school’s wrestling team.
He had offers from Notre Dame, Purdue, UCLA, Stanford, Nebraska, North Carolina, Duke, Ohio State, Maryland, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Michigan,...
