The Cleveland Browns' preseason plans have been dealt a significant setback by placing Pro Bowl right guard Wyatt Teller on injured reserve. Field Level Media confirmed that the teller suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of the Browns' loss to the New York Giants last Sunday. As per league rules, his positioning on injured reserve implies a mandatory absence from play for at least four games, a development that leaves the Browns (1-2) scrambling to reconfigure their offensive line.
Field Level Media reported that rookie guard Zak Zinter, who stepped in for Teller during the game, is now preparing for an amplified role on the team. Zinter, selected in the third round of this year's NFL Draft, entered the fray with an air of readiness, telling News 5 Cleveland, "You never want to see that happen to anyone. Just got to have that next man in mentality and prepare like you're going to be out there playing—and next thing you know, you are."
Roster adjustments didn't stop with Teller's injury. The Browns also signed tackle Germain Ifedi to the active roster from the practice squad and crafted additional roster changes. They signed tackles Sebastian Gutierrez, Ricky Lee III, and defensive end Elerson Smith to the practice squad. At the same time, linebacker Luiji Vilain was released, as reported by The Daily Gazette.
The Browns, however, continue grappling with injury concerns beyond Teller. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. is marked as not likely to participate in Wednesday's practice due to a knee ailment. More unsettling is the condition of All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett, who remains dogged by multiple lower-body injuries but is "determined to continue to play" despite the pain, as Cleveland19 highlighted from Stefanski's comments.
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