It sounds like Nick Harris will be sidelined for the entire 2022 season. The Browns starting center will undergo surgery on his injured right knee that will likely knock him out for the entire season, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.
Jeff Schudel of the News-Herald notes that the Browns aren't “ready to say he’ll miss the entire season,” with the team awaiting more information before making that determination. However, it sounds like the lineman is all be destined to go under the knife, and recovery time would likely last through the entire 2022 campaign. Harris was injured on the second snap of Friday’s preseason opener. After receiving contact from Jaguars defensive tackle DaVon Hamilton, the offensive lineman fell to the ground. He was unable to put weight on his right leg before being helped on to a cart.
“All these injuries stink. You don’t like anybody to get injured,” coach Kevin Stefanski said, via Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. “Nick certainly is a guy that’s been working so hard this offseason. Really hoping that it’s not a season-long thing because the kid just works so hard.”
Harris was a fifth-round pick out of Washington in 2020. He started two of his 23 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, and while he didn’t play enough snaps to qualify for Pro Football Focus’ 2021 OL rankings, he earned an above-average grade in both pass-blocking and run-blocking. He was expected to take over the starting center gig in place of free agent J.C. Tretter, who remains unsigned. Ethan Pocic filled in at center Friday night, and the team is also rostering seventh-round rookie Dawson Deaton and UDFA Brock Hoffman.
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