Browns' job vs. Saints gets tougher after latest injury news

Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. dominated the news cycle this week, and his designation for the team's Week 11 matchup in New Orleans also raised eyebrows. 

On Saturday, November 16, the Browns announced that Wills Jr. had been downgraded to out due to his lingering knee injury. The 2020 first-round pick hyperextended his knee in Week 7 and subsequently missed Weeks 8 and 9 against Baltimore and Los Angeles Chargers, respectively. The Browns were on a bye last week.

On Monday, November 11, Wills Jr. told reporters he had "made a business decision not to play" against Baltimore. Dawand Jones made his first-ever start at left tackle for Cleveland's upset over Baltimore. Wills Jr. said that head coach Kevin Stefanski informed him he would "no longer start but instead would serve as a 'swing' tackle'" ahead of Week 9, and Wills Jr. backed up Jones and right tackle Jack Conklin for the Browns' loss to L.A.

Cleveland.com's Mary Kay Cabot reported that Wills Jr. experienced "a flare-up" of his knee injury before Sunday's (Nov. 17) game against the Saints.

"A source said the move had nothing to do with Wills’ business decision remarks, which Kevin Stefanski described as a poor choice of words for the 2020 No. 10 overall pick out of Alabama," Cabot wrote. 

"I talked to Jed," Stefanski told reporters last week. "It was a poor choice of words. I know the connotation of 'business decision,' and that's not how he meant it. [He] did not feel like he was near 100 percent to help us, but poor choice of words. And he understands that."

The reigning AP Coach of the Year emphasized that Wills Jr.'s public comments would not impact his playing time moving forward. Stefanski also explained that Wills Jr.'s rehab from MCL surgery last December has been "tough."

The Browns additionally announced the signing of defensive tackle Sam Kamara and defensive end Elerson Smith to the active roster after placing defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. on injured reserve. Wide receiver Kadarius Toney has been elevated from the practice squad and is expected to make his Browns debut against the Saints.

The 2-7 Browns and 3-7 Saints are slated for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff.