BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr.’s “business decision” to sit out a recent game with a knee injury may have backfired.
Wills was recently benched in favor of second-year tackle Dawand Jones, who was moved from right tackle to left tackle in hopes of improving a Cleveland line that has been plagued by injuries.
Wills said 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) on the first play of the game the previous week against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Then, after the Browns (2-7) beat the Ravens with Jones at left tackle, Wills said coach Kevin 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.
Wills, a first-round pick in the 2020 draft out of Alabama, had started all 57 games in which he was healthy before the demotion.
“It was pretty shocking,” he said Monday when the Browns returned from their bye week. “I mean, I decided it myself. I made the business decision to not play after the Bengals game before the Ravens game because I was injured. And then the next week was when I got the news.”
Wills was asked if the Browns misinterpreted his decision not to participate.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “Maybe.”
Wills understands the situation, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the pleasant 25-year-old.
“I think angry is not a good word,” he said when asked about his feelings. “I would say it’s more frustrating. But, I mean, it’s not my decision. I can only do what I can do.”
For their part, the Browns could have been making their own business decision by demoting Wills.
He’s in the final year of his rookie contract ($14.175 million), and Cleveland management may no longer see him as part of their future. The 6-foot-8, 375-pound Jones performed well as a rookie while filling in for an injured Conklin, and the Browns may want to see if he can be their anchor on the left side.
The team restructured Wills’ deal to make it more cap-friendly, and if he doesn’t re-sign with Cleveland, the Browns will take an $11.8 million cap hit in 2025.
“I’m not trying to say anything about [Wills]” Stefanski said last week. “I’m just trying to get Dawand out and let him get better. “Jed is still a player we believe in and right now he has to be ready to play.”
Wills has no regrets about not participating last month. He played through ankle injuries early in his career rather than taking more time off.
“You don’t want to go out and give 70% effort while you’re injured, and then you have someone else who can go out and give 100%,” he said. “I don’t want to be out there thinking about my knee all the time. I have to focus on my task.”
For now, Will wants to stay focused on the present. He said his decision not to play had nothing to do with his future.
“I don’t think I would play hurt no matter what time of my career,” Wills said. “If I’m healthy enough to play, I’ll play. If I’m not healthy enough to play, then I won’t play.”
It’s unclear if he will play for the Browns next season, but he insists he still likes being in Cleveland.
“I like it wherever they want me,” he said. “You know what I mean?”
