Dawand Jones, a graduate of the Myles Garrett School of Defending Pass Rushers, is getting a chance to put his diploma to good use.
Jones is the third-year offensive tackle who on Sept. 21 will have the chore of keeping Green Bay defensive end Micah Parsons away from Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. Jones, a left tackle, will study film of Parsons from the Packers' first two games of 2025 to help him prepare. But the 374-pound hulk from Ohio State is already familiar with his assignment because he faced Parsons last year as the Browns right tackle when Parsons played for the Cowboys.
Parsons sacked Deshaun Watson once and pressured him 10 other times in the 2024 opener when the Cowboys whipped the Browns, 33-17. Parsons hurried Watson six times, hit him five times and batted down a pass.
Not all those gaudy numbers registered by Parsons were at Jones' expense. The Cowboys and now the Packers move Parsons from one side of the defensive line to the other, depending on what the defensive coordinator dials up for a particular play. Parsons went against Jones 40 times. He lined up on the Dallas right side to go against Browns left tackle James Hudson 23 times.
"(Parsons) is elite, as we know," Jones said before practice Sept. 17. "He's on the same level as Myles. I hold Myles to a different standard just being here with him. But he's on that level and you can't take reps off. He's a high-motor effort. Everything that you see is what you get."
The Cowboys traded Parsons to the Packers on Aug, 28 for two first-round draft picks and defensive tackle Kenny Clark. Parsons has 1.5 sacks with his new team. He had eight quarterback pressures Sept. 14 when the Packers beat the Commanders, 27-18.
"It was a great front before they added Micah Parsons, who's a great player," Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "They have multiple guys that they can throw at you on the outside, on the inside, that can rush the passer. That means it's important for the offense to play together, play assignment sound, trust rules."
Jones played right tackle as a rookie. He didn't have to face Garrett in organized team activities his first year because they are voluntary and Garrett chooses not to participate. Jones aged quickly when he went up against Garrett in minicamp as a rookie in 2023. Jones has been proving iron sharpens iron ever since.
"Myles has a lot in his arsenal, so I feel like that prepares me for the game, getting those reps and going against Myles a thousand times," Jones said while preparing to face Parsons again. "That definitely helps.
"Micah has twitchiness. The one sack he got last week, he went outside. It happened so fast. The right tackle (Josh Conerly) was a rookie. So like, he didn't see the keys and tendencies of how Micah presents himself and honestly just how fast he is."
Left tackle was a mess for the Browns last year. Hudson started the first two games there in 2024. Jed Wills started the third game. Hudson was back at left tackle for the fourth game. Wills started at left tackle against the Commanders in the fifth game and again the following two weeks.
Jones was the right tackle for the first five games of 2024 while Jack Conklin recovered from 2023 knee surgery. Jones took over at left tackle against the Ravens in the eighth game. He suffered a broken fibula in his third start at left tackle when right guard Wyatt Teller fell on his leg.
On top of learning a new position on the line, Jones has had three offensive line coaches in three years -- Bill Callahan, Andy Dickerson and now Mike Bloomgren. Plus, his 2023 and 2024 seasons ended with leg surgeries.
"Young player, getting better with each game," Stefaski said when asked about Jones. "So, I think he's improving."
Jones was rested for 10 snaps last week because of the heat at Baltimore's M&T Bank Stadium, Stefanski said. Jones was not on the Sept. 17 injury report.
Conklin has two years remaining on his contract. The Browns might decide to move Jones back to right tackle when Conklin's playing days end.
Browns - LG Joel Bitonio (back) and PR/KR DeAndre Carter (concussion) did not practice. RT Jack Conklin elbow), FT Maliek Collins (rest), P Corey Bojorquez (ankle), S Grant Delpit (back) and DT Mike Hall (knee) were limited. CB Denzel Ward was a full participant. Cramping limited him to 20 plays against the Ravens.
Packers - WR Jayden Reed (foot, shoulder) did not practice.