-
Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.’s comment that he made a “business decision” by not playing because of a lingering knee injury was a ” “poor choice of words.”
Wills told reporters Monday that it was his decision not to play against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 27 after hyperextending his left knee, the same one he had surgery on in December 2023, on the first play of the game the previous week against Baltimore. Ravens. Cincinnati Bengals.
Then, after the Browns (2-7) defeated the Ravens with Dawand Jones at left tackle, Wills said Stefanski told him he would no longer start but instead serve as a swing tackle. He backed up both Jones and right tackle Jack Conklin in the Nov. 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Stefanski said he spoke to Wills about the comment and that it was misinterpreted.
“It was a poor choice of words,” Stefanski said. “I know the connotation of ‘business decision’. That’s not what he meant. He didn’t feel close to 100% helping us, but he chose the wrong words and he gets it.”
Stefanski also said that Wills’ decision to sit out the game against the Ravens is not the reason he was benched, and his recent comment would not affect his ability to regain his starting job in the future. Stefanski has recently said he plans to continue starting Jones, a 2023 fourth-round pick who has made his first two career starts at left tackle.
Wills, 25, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft out of Alabama, had started all 57 games in which he was healthy before the demotion. Wills is in the final year of a rookie contract that was restructured in March. The Browns would take an $11.8 million cap hit if he doesn’t re-sign.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
