CLEVELAND — Germain Ifedi took on the role of left tackle for the Cleveland Browns during their matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently lead the AFC North.

Ifedi’s promotion to the starting lineup came after the team’s regular starter, Dawand Jones, suffered a broken left leg last week during a game in New Orleans, requiring surgery. His primary responsibility will be to protect quarterback Jameis Winston’s blindside during the game.

Originally, Jedrick Wills Jr. was anticipated to take the field against the Steelers (8-2) after Jones’ injury; however, he was ruled out due to a knee injury that has plagued him for several weeks.

Wills, a first-round draft pick from 2020, drew attention recently after he mentioned that he opted to miss a game on October 27 against Baltimore, citing a “business decision” related to his knee condition. Coach Kevin Stefanski later remarked that Wills had made a “poor choice of words” with his comment.

Before Wills could return, James Hudson filled in as the starting left tackle for the Browns’ first two games while the team waited for Wills to recover from knee surgery performed in December.

On the other side, the Steelers were also feeling the impact of injuries, as they were missing outside linebacker and edge rusher Alex Highsmith, who sat out his second consecutive game due to an ankle injury.

With both teams grappling with injuries and lineup changes, the game promised to be a significant challenge for the Browns, who are seeking to improve their performance after a rocky start to the season.

As the situation unfolds, Cleveland fans will be keenly observing how Ifedi adapts to his new role and how the team as a whole responds to the ongoing challenges they face.