The Cleveland Browns could be without All-Pro guard Joel Bitonio when the team hosts the Green Bay Packers in Week 3.
Bitonio has been dealing with a back injury, and he didn’t practice on Sept. 19, meaning he didn’t practice all week. Given that he didn’t practice, his availability for the game is up in the air as he’s listed as questionable on the injury report.
Bitonio said the back injury is similar to what he has experienced in the past. So he’s hopeful he will be able to play through it.
“I got full speed in the game there and it locked up on me a little bit but I’m working through it So, it’s a little bit better today than it was yesterday, so it’s (an) improvement,” Bitonio said on Sept. 18 18. “The hardest part is you don’t know when it’s going to pop up. But once it does happen, I do know what has helped it in the past, and now you’re just hoping that the 48 hours and stuff will get through it.”
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski, meanwhile, says Bitonio is ‘progressing’ but his game status remains in the air. But, the coach is confident the veteran can play on Sunday if he’s healthy enough, despite not practicing all week.
Bitonio is a two-time first-team All-Pro and the Browns‘ starting left guard.
Who Would Replace Bitonio if he’s Injured?
Although Cleveland is holding out hope that Bitonio can play, the Browns are prepared if he isn’t in the lineup against the Packers.
Should Bitonio be inactive, Cleveland will start Teven Jenkins at left guard. Jenkins was a second-round pick in 2021 by the Chicago Bears, and Browns offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren is confident in Jenkins.
“Teven’s gotten better and better every week. We’ve had a chance to work with him. You go back to the first preseason game. I didn’t think he performed anywhere near he was capable of. And he’s built on those performances, and he’s continued to grow,” Bloomgren said. “I think myself and other coaches in the room have a lot of confidence in Teven, if he is the one out there. The experience he had in Chicago (Bears), whether it was playing tackle or playing guard, this is a guy that’s played a lot of football in this league and played good football. We certainly would expect him to do the same.”
Jenkins has started 38 games in the NFL. So, he has plenty of experience, should Bitonio not play.
Browns OL Coach Confident Bitonio Will Play
Although Bloomgren is confident in Jenkins, he remains confident that Bitonio will play on Sunday.
Bloomgren believes that if Bitonio can walk, he will do whatever it takes to take the field on Sunday.
“But I’m going to be right there with you on Joel. I think Joel’s playing as good a football as anybody in the National Football League at the guard position,” Bloomgren said. “I think Wyatt’s really close behind him. So, I love what those guards are doing, and we certainly want them out there. We want Teven to have whatever role we can get for him. But at the end of the day, I believe this in my core, Joel is like the modern gladiator. If he can walk, I believe he’ll play on Sunday, and I appreciate that so much.”
Bitonio has started 161 games in his career.
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