Browns place Chris Hubbard on IR

The Cleveland Browns placed veteran offensive lineman Chris Hubbard on the injured reserve list on Tuesday.

Hubbard suffered what is reportedly a significant knee injury on the second play of Sunday’s win against the New York Giants.

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hubbard suffered torn ligaments in his right knee as well as a dislocated kneecap. The surgical procedure will fix the ligament as well as the “associated damage” to his knee.

A starter the past two seasons for the Browns at right tackle with limited success, Hubbard found his role with the team this year as a versatile backup along the offensive line. He ended up starting four games at right guard as Wyatt Teller battled first a calf injury and then an ankle injury, and one at right tackle for Jack Conklin.

After Hubbard went down against the Giants, rookie Nick Harris stepped on short notice and held his own.

Harris gained valuable experience during training camp filling in at center with the starters while JC Tretter rehabbed from knee surgery. While he was pressed into service at guard, that experience certainly helped Harris’ confidence level.

While he had not seen any significant time during the regular season before Sunday, Harris has worked to stay ready for when the moment arrived, he told clevelandbrowns.com:

“I’m just trying to optimize whatever role I have. I’m just trying to be a role player for this team, and whenever my opportunity comes, I’m ready for it. I’m just trying to build off that and become the best version of the best player I can be.”

Now with the growing expectation that Teller’s ankle injury will keep him out of this weekend’s game against the New York Jets, Harris will once again be in the spotlight, although this time with a week of practice under his belt.