Browns place two players on injured reserve, elevate two from practice squad

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Browns placed left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. and rookie cornerback Cameron Mitchell on injured reserve, the team announced on Tuesday. Wills was carted off the field on Sunday and there was concern his injury might have been season-ending, but the Browns received a measure of good news and Wills is expected to miss about six weeks with a high-grade MCL sprain, a low grade PCL sprain and bone bruises.

Mitchell has a hamstring injury. Players placed on injured reserve must miss at least four games

Tackle Geron Christian and wide receiver James Proche II are taking their spots on the 53-man roster, signing off the practice squad. Proche is expected to take over as the team’s returner after returning six punts for 55 yards against the Cardinals on Sunday.

A sixth-round pick by Baltimore in 2020, Proche appeared in 43 games for the Ravens.

Christian was a third-round pick by Washington in 2018 and has played for the Commanders, Texans and Chiefs. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound lineman was signed to the Browns’ practice squad on Halloween.

The Browns are now without their two starting tackles. Right tackle Jack Conklin suffered a season-ending injury in the Browns’ opening-week win over Cincinnati. Rookie Dawand Jones has replaced Conklin and played well. The Browns could consider moving Jones to left tackle or simply replace Wills with James Hudson III, their swing tackle.

“We’ll work through all those things this week,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said on Monday. “Just talk with the coaches about it and then practice, but we have options.”

Wills has started 53 games since the Browns selected him No. 10 overall in the 2020 draft. They picked up his fifth-year option last offseason, guaranteeing his contract in 2024 for $14.124 million.

“I thought it was more serious than the six weeks,” linebacker Sione Takitaki said on Monday. “So that’s good news. And he’ll attack rehab and get back after. So good news for the team.”

Mitchell, a fifth-round pick, appeared in all eight games this season and started in the slot on Sunday against the Cardinals in place of Greg Newsome II, who missed the game with a groin injury.

The Browns also signed wide receiver Trinity Benson, safety Vincent Gray and tackle Justin Murray to the practice squad and released tight end Devin Asiasi from the practice squad.