J.C.

Tretter

Tretter was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2014 draft. After some rookie growing pains, he was outstanding in his second and third seasons. The Browns signed him to a three-year deal in 2017 and extended him in 2019 after two strong seasons. He played five excellent seasons for the Browns in total. Tretter would have had no trouble finding a team had he decided to play in 2022, however in his statement he wrote he wanted to “stop playing when I wanted to — on my own terms.” Tretter served as NFLPA president and indicated in his statement that he will continue on in that capacity, “doubling down” on his work “on behalf of the great players of our game, past, present, and future.”

Jensen hurt his knee during a training camp session, and Tampa coaches were immediately concerned it would be a long-term injury. Losing the leader of Tom Brady’s offensive line is a nightmarish way to kick off training camp, as the win-now Bucs have done a great job protecting the 44-year-old Brady during his two seasons in Tampa. The Bucs are reportedly interested in veteran C J.C. Tretter, a longtime standout for the Browns.

Michael Dieter, a 15-game starter at guard as a rookie, would go back to guard in this alignment. Jackson also mentions the possibility that the team could sign former Browns center J.C. Tretter, who has gone unsigned so far. The middle of the Dolphins line remains a little unsettled as we head into the summer.

The Browns save $8.2 million with the move. Tretter, president of the NFL players union, will hit the open market after eight seasons in Cleveland. He remains one of the league’s premiere pas blocking centers, starting 16 games in each of the past five seasons for the Browns. Tretter, 31, will surely garner interest from teams looking to beef up their pass blocking in 2022.

This isn’t ideal. Tretter apparently still has a chance to come back for the game if he can clear protocols, per coach Kevin Stefanski. Nick Harris is the backup center. The Browns continue to be hit hard by the novel coronavirus.

Wills was carted off the field in Week 1 against the Chiefs. His absence from practice puts his status for the Browns’ Week 2 matchup with the Texans. The Browns were also without right tackle Jack Conklin and center J.C. Tretter at practice today. While their injuries aren’t considered as serious as Wills’, it’s concerning to see three starting linemen miss practice to start the week. If the Browns enter Week 2 missing multiple pieces in the trenches, their run-game would take a notable hit. The matchup against Houston would ultimately mitigate the miniature crisis though, keeping Nick Chubb firmly in the RB1 conversation.

Tretter hasn’t missed a start since 2017 and the knee surgery he underwent in the offseason won’t be breaking that streak. He’ll get the starting nod over fifth-round rookie Nick Harris. Tretter and the Browns are facing a Ravens defense that averaged 2.2 sacks per game in 2019 and added Calais Campbell in the offseason. Their ability to give Baker Mayfield time in the pocket to make his throws will be a deciding factor in the team’s Week 1 success.

We would expect Tretter to suit up since he hasn’t missed a start since 2017. If the 29-year-old is unable to go, the Browns will be forced to play two rookies (Jedrick Wills, Nick Harris) on their o-line in Week 1’s pivotal divisional showdown against the Ravens.

Tretter being on track to suit up on Sunday against the Ravens is a big development for Cleveland’s offensive line. Tretter underwent a “clean up” procedure on his knee after playing through knee ailments in 2019. Fifth-rounder Nick Harris was in line to take snaps in Tretter’s place.

The agreement on daily testing among players, coaches, and staff runs out at the end of this week. In a column on the challenges of conducting a season during the pandemic, NFLPA President J.C. Tretter said teams should continue daily testing beyond this week. Tretter cited the successes of the league’s COVID-19 protocols in pushing for daily testing into the regular season. From August 12-20, there were 58,397 COVID-19 tests conducted on players and staff members across the NFL. Not one player tested positive, while six staffers did.