James

Hudson III

Cleveland made a slew of roster moves. The Browns also placed T James Hudson III (shoulder) on IR, released WR James Proche II, and elevated S Chris Edmonds and WR Jaelon Darden from the practice squad for Week 6’s matchup with the Eagles.

The Browns’ banged-up offensive line loses its oft-used, backup swing tackle. The 25-year-old blocker has yet to prove himself as a starting caliber player but his loss is still an issue for a unit that struggles to keep Deshaun Watson pressure-free.

Conklin was listed as questionable after practicing in a limited capacity all week. His surgically repaired knee evidently needs more time though. Backup T James Hudson III will start in his stead. Wills Jr. (knee) and Njoku were ruled out earlier in the week. Thompson-Robinson serves as the emergency QB.

The report comes from The Akron Beacon Journal. Ifedi is filling in for starting LT Jedrick Wills Jr. (MCL), who “has shown no visible indication of when he’ll be back doing on-field football work” since injuring his knee in November 2023, per reporter Chris Easterling. Ifedi’s Saturday hand injury was among three total injuries suffered by the Browns’ backup tackle group, including James Hudson III (ankle) and Hakeem Adeniji (knee). Stefanski ruled Hudson out for the upcoming preseason contest but said Hudson “will be back soon.” Stefanski expects Adeniji to be “out for a little bit” though. The Browns’ thin tackle group is a concern.

Conklin tore his patella in Week 12 last year. He has been getting limited practices in over the past two weeks but will miss at least one more game. James Hudson will start in his place. Pro Football Focus charted Hudson as allowing just one pressure on 43 pass-blocking reps in Week 1.

With LT Jedrick Wills and OL Wyatt Teller also on the list, it leaves the Browns down three starting offensive linemen. There’s a chance the Browns get Wills or Teller back for Monday’s game, but this likely rules out Hudson.

Hudson (6'5/313) only started one season at offensive tackle after initially enrolling at Michigan as a four-star defensive end. He transferred to Cincinnati after his redshirt freshman season, and won the left tackle job in 2020. Hudson popped off the screen during Cincy’s run to a New Year’s Day bowl this season, with an intriguing blend of agility and athleticism and an unmistakable surliness on the field (he was ejected from the Peach Bowl for blasting Georgia CB Tyson Campbell after the whistle). Hudson fires out of the chamber low in the run game like his DL days and is able to reach any block and execute, descending on linebackers with a sort of euphoric glee. Soft, coordinated feet also give Hudson a shot to stick outside in the NFL -- he doesn’t get beat with movement. With only 11 career starts, Hudson is a ball of clay. Consistency will be key -- there are snaps where he goes rogue and wants to instigate a hand fight, not let his prey come to him when he’s under-control and balanced. But he makes a lot of sense for zone teams that want ambulatory, second-level head-hunters at tackle. As a sawed-off tackle with long arms and quick feet, he brings a Charles Leno Jr.-like package to the NFL. Hudson should open 2021 as a swing option behind Jack Conklin.

What a brutal loss for Cincinnati over something so careless. Late in a play that put the Bearcats in the red zone, Hudson made a hit on the sideline in which he was called for targeting, resulting in him being ejected for the remainder of the game. Losing an OL against any team is bad, but Cincinnati, the underdog, losing an OL against Georgia, who has one of the best DL in college football, is brutal. Keep an eye out on Georgia potentially ramping up their blitzes with Hudson now out.

Hudson’s 2019 season was essentially a lost one, as he was forced to sit out the season after transferring from Michigan despite requesting a waiver over grounds that he was suffering from depression. He was able to play in the bowl game, however, and he’s locked in as the starting left tackle for the Bearcats. “He’s a winner. He’s used to winning and having success,” Bearcats offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said of Hudson. “He knows what price needs to be paid to be successful.” Cincinnati may be the best Group of 5 team in the country on paper, and Hudson (6'5/308) has a chance to help them qualify for a New Year’s Six Bowl in 2020.

Hudson (6'5/301) was seeking an eligibility waiver after transferring over from Michigan, on the grounds that he was suffering from depression. That request was shot down this week, apparently because Hudson had not reported these sensitive issues while he was in Ann Arbor. Bearcats HC Luke Fickell retweeted Hudson’s initial social media post explaining the waiver denial and announced that the school was hitting back at the NCAA with an appeal before adding the hashtag "#FreeJamesHudson.” Given that Hudson’s case has started to gain a little public momentum, it would not be surprising if the NCAA caved in the end.