Browns Place LG Joel Bitonio on Injured Reserve, Claim OL Gabe Ikard

Get ready to see some more of Cameron Erving. The Cleveland Browns announced that they have placed starting left guard Joel Bitonio on injured reserve after he re-aggravated his ankle injury on the team's first series against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Filling Bitonio's roster spot is OL Gabe Ikard, who was claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Bills. Ikard was an undrafted free agent in 2014 who signed with the Tennessee Titans. He spent all of 2014 on injured reserve with a knee injury, and after he didn't make the Titans' roster at the start of 2015, the Bills claimed him off waivers. He has been a reserve lineman for Buffalo this year, making appearances in three games. Our Bills affiliate calls him an interior lineman, so it sounds like he'll be an extra guard or center who could step in over the final four games, if needed.

Now the question is, "what will the Browns do with Erving?" He has basically started three straight games at left guard, but had struggled badly. After a holding call against the Bengals late in the game, the coaching staff pulled him for backup Austin Pasztor for the remainder of the game.

If I was head coach Mike Pettine, here is what I would do: start Erving at right guard, and move John Greco over to left guard. Erving has worked primarily at right guard during camp and the preseason, so he might be a little more in his comfort zone. Also, before the Browns drafted Bitonio, Greco was the team's left guard between Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, so the transition shouldn't be much of an obstacle for him.