Browns coach – Wills’ ‘business decision’ comment ‘poor choice of words’

BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said on Wednesday that offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. ‘s comment that he made a “business decision” in sitting out due to a lingering knee injury was a “poor choice of words.”

Wills told reporters on Monday that it was his decision not to oppose the Baltimore Ravens on October 27 after injuring his left knee – the same one he had surgery on in December 2023 – on the game’s first play the previous week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Then, after the Browns (2-7) upset the Ravens with Dawand Jones at left tackle, Wills said Stefanski told him he would no longer start, but instead serve as a swing pitcher. He backed up both Jones and right tackle Jack Conklin for the November 3 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Stefanski said he spoke to Wills about the comment and that it was misunderstood.

“It was a poor choice of words,” Stefanski said. “I know the connotation of ‘business decision’. That’s not how he meant it. He didn’t feel like he was close to 100% helping us, but a poor choice of words and he gets it.

Stefanski also said Wills’ decision to sit out the Ravens game is not why he was benched, and his recent comment will not affect his ability to regain his starting spot in the future. Stefanski recently said he plans to continue starting Jones, a 2023 fourth-round pick who made his first two career starts at left tackle.

Wills, 25, a 2020 first-round draft pick out of Alabama, had started all 57 games in which he was healthy before the demotion. Wills is in the final year of a rookie contract that was restructured in March. The Browns will forfeit an $11.8 million cap hit if he doesn’t re-sign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.