The Cleveland Browns could find themselves scrambling to fill a hole along the offensive line in Week 11. Starting right tackle Jack Conklin was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday for being a close contact with an infected person. Conklin’s normal backup, Chris Hubbard, is also on the list after testing positive for COVID-19 last week.
The pandemic-related depth issue could force the Browns to turn to little-used reserve Kendall Lamm at right tackle. Coach Kevin Stefanski appears to have a lot of confidence in Lamm, now in his second season in Cleveland.
“Kendall works extremely hard. He fits the bill of the guys that we are looking for,” Stefanski said in his Zoom media session on Wednesday. “He does a great job at practice and I see him a lot because he gets a ton of reps on the scout team, so he is blocking Myles Garrett many times, Olivier Vernon so he gets great work during the week. Very conscientious person, player, he studies real hard. So, should he be the guy, he will be ready to go.”
Conklin could still wind up playing against the Eagles on Sunday. He will need to pass COVID-19 tests every day between Wednesday and Sunday, including the morning of the game. If not, it’s Lamm time.
The 28-year-old Lamm does have some starting experience. He got two starts for Cleveland in 2019, in Weeks 14 and 15. Lamm played capably in those games before getting injured in the game against the Arizona Cardinals. He also saw some action in Week 1 this year, filling in at left tackle when Jedrick Wills went down. He was the Houston Texans’ regular starting right tackle in 2018 and started 24 games in four years in Houston before coming to Cleveland.
Undrafted rookie Alex Taylor is on the practice squad and the Browns did protect Taylor this week, so he would figure to get promoted for the game if the Browns are stressed at tackle.
