The Browns recorded their first win of the campaign yesterday, but their offensive line suffered a blow in the process. Tackle Dawand Jones will miss the remainder of the season. 
The third-year blocker suffered a knee injury during Cleveland’s Week 3 contest and did not return. When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski said (via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal) Jones requires surgery and will be sidelined for the rest of the campaign as a result. 2025 thus marks the third consecutive year in which Jones has found himself in this situation.
The 24-year-old started at left tackle for the first two games of the campaign as the Browns sought out a long-term answer on the blindside. Things did not go according to plan, however, prompting the team to move Jones back to his familiar right tackle spot for Sunday. That decision resulted in only a short-term impact given the timing of the injury.
Jones will now turn his attention once again to the recovery process. The former fourth-rounder was limited to 11 games as a rookie and 10 the following year. After only three appearances in 2025, he could still be viewed as a starting option for the future but one without a track record of availability. Jones’ rookie contract runs through next season, and in the wake of this latest injury it would come as a surprise if he were to receive an extension during the spring.
As a rookie, Jones drew a strong PFF evaluation for his pass protection; 2024 produced a regression across the board, though. Cleveland’s overall play up front has been a sore spot, particularly at the tackle positions. Losing the Oklahoma product for the year will leave the Browns shorthanded to an even larger extent moving forward.
Jedrick Wills is recovering from a knee injury of his own, and the former Browns first-rounder remains unsigned as a candidate to miss most (potentially all) of the campaign. A reunion on that front should not be expected, while veteran Jack Conklin has logged just 20 snaps to date in 2025. He is a pending free agent, and an offseason departure would come as no surprise. For now, Cornelius Lucas and KT Leveston are positioned to handle tackle duties. The Browns could be in the market for an in-season addition, particularly if Conklin continues to miss time.
In any event, Jones will not be in the picture for the rest of the way. The 1-2 Browns are in need of improved play on offense, including up front. The will need to attain it while dealing with a shorthanded unit.