Sad to say, the injuries to the offensive line have claimed another victim. This time it’s training camp sensation C.J. Jones, who was cut today to make room for backup lineman Craig Osika.
Center Jeff Faine and guard Shaun O’Hara are each expected to miss two games with knee injures. If all goes well, they’ll be back when the Browns return from their bye week. In the meantime, the team will face two of its former coaches, Marty Schottenheimer and Bill Bellichick, in consecutive weeks with a very raw interior line.
Jones led the league in kickoff return yardage during the preseason, but he never made the game-day roster due to the Browns’ depth at wide receiver. The team tried him at cornerback as well.
I’m hoping he clears waivers and is signed to the practice squad, because I’m skeptical that the Browns and free-agent-to-be Dennis Northcutt will come to terms.
Another ramification of these injuries — yet to be officially confirmed as such — is that it delays the day that injured players such as WR Frisman Jackson and RB Lee Suggs are allowed to return to practice, even though they may be physically OK by now. The team needs every available roster spot right now for the linemen and the three — count ’em, three — quarterbacks they must protect. The future will just have to wait.