Wills said it was his decision not to play in the Oct. 27 game against Baltimore because he hyperextended his left knee (the same one he had surgery on in December) on the first play of last week’s game against Cincinnati.
Later, after the Browns (2-7) upset the Ravens with Jones at left tackle, Wills said coach Kevin Stefanski told him he would no longer be a starter and would serve as a “swing” tackle. He backed up Jones and right tackle Jack Conklin in a Nov. 3 game against the Chargers.
Wills, a 2020 first-round draft pick out of the University of Alabama, started all 57 games he was healthy before being demoted.
“It was pretty shocking,” he said Monday as the Browns returned from their bye week. “I mean, it was my decision. I was injured, so after the Bengals game and before the Ravens game, I made a business decision not to play. And then the next week I got the news. ”
Wills was asked if the Browns misunderstood his decision to sit out.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “perhaps.”
Wills understands the situation, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the affable 25-year-old.
When asked how he felt, he said, “I don’t think upset is the right word.” “I think that’s more frustrating. But I mean, it’s not my decision. I just do what I can.”
From their side, the Browns may have made their own business decision to demote Willis.
He is in the final year of his rookie contract ($14.175 million), and Cleveland’s front office may no longer consider him a part of its future. The 6-foot-8, 375-pound Jones performed well as a rookie replacing the injured Conklin, so the Browns may want to see if he can be an anchor on the left side.
The team restructured his contract to make it more salary cap friendly, and the Browns will take an $11.8 million cap hit in 2025 if he doesn’t re-sign with Cleveland.
Wills doesn’t regret being absent last month. He played with an ankle injury early in his career instead of taking more time off.
“You don’t want to go out and give 70% of your effort when you’re injured, and there are other guys out there who are going to go out there and give 100%,” he said. said. “I don’t want to go out thinking about my knee all the time. I have to focus on my mission.”
For now, Will wants to stay stuck in the present. He said his decision not to play had nothing to do with his future.
“I don’t think I’m going to play at any point in my career where I’m going to get hurt,” Wills said. “If I’m healthy enough to play, I’ll play. If I’m not healthy enough to play, I won’t play.”
It’s unclear whether he’ll play for the Browns next season, but he insists he still loves Cleveland.
“I like being wherever I’m asked to be,” he said. “you know what i mean?
Notes: Stefanski reaffirmed that Jameis Winston remains the team’s starting QB. Winston has started two games since Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending injury. Winston’s next start will be against the New Orleans Saints, the team he played for four seasons. …LB Jordan Hicks (elbow) returns to practice. He has missed four of the past five games.
sunday’s game
Browns at Saints, 1 p.m., FOX, 1290, 95.7
