Often underappreciated, NFL offensive linemen go to war in the trenches week-in, week-out. Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills knows that as well as anyone, as linemen are always injured in some way, shape, or form.

Wills sat out the team’s Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers due to an injury, a choice that he called a “business decision”. Now, he’s stunned that he’s been benched because of that choice.

Jedrick Wills was a first-round pick for the Browns in 2020, and his career got off to a hot start. The Alabama alum almost instantly was a competent starter in the NFL, and was trending as one of the league’s best young offensive linemen. He’s regressed a bit the last two seasons, but is still serviceable.

Wills suffered a knee injury in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He didn’t play in Week 8’s game against the Ravens, and then was on the bench for the Week 9 game against the Chargers. That was strange to many. Even though Wills has struggled some, the 25-year-old is considered to be the clear-cut starter at left tackle for the franchise.

The Browns returned from the Bye Week on Monday. Jedrick Wills spoke to the media about what went on when it came to his benching. Here’s the Akron Beacon-Journal with more.

Wills said Monday that it was his call to not play against the Ravens because he didn’t feel like his right knee, which he re-injured the previous week in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. That led to a conversation leading into the Browns’ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers with head coach Kevin Stefanski where he was informed that Dawand Jones was going to remain the starter going forward.

“I think upset isn’t a good word to use,” Wills said Monday. “I would say it’s more frustrating, but I mean, it’s not my decision. I can only do what I can do.”

Wills is playing on his fifth-year option, which he restructured for the Browns in March. Asked if the current situation would impact his chances of signing an extension, he said, “Yeah, I mean, it’s not up to me,” while adding he wasn’t certain if his agent, Nicole Lynn, had been in recent extension talks with the team.
(cont.)

“I mean, it was pretty shocking,” Wills said. “I mean, I decided myself that, I made a business decision not to play after the Bengals game going into that Ravens game because I was injured. And then the next week is when I received the news.”

I’m not sure why Wills is shocked by this. Yes, he was injured. But, it seems like he was cleared to play. It’s understandable that the Browns were unhappy with Jedrick Wills. It seems like he was healthy enough to play and simply didn’t want to in order to protect his future. That’s not going to cut it in the NFL.