NEW ORLEANS — In a concerning development for the Cleveland Browns, left tackle Dawand Jones was taken off the field in a cart with an air cast on his left leg during the latter part of the first half of their game against the New Orleans Saints.

As medical staff attended to him, Jones seemed to communicate to team personnel that he suspected he had a broken ankle.

This injury occurred at a critical moment for the Browns, who were already facing challenges with their offensive line.

Just a day prior to the game, Cleveland had announced that starting left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. would be sidelined due to a knee injury.

This decision came on the heels of Wills expressing that he had made a “business decision” not to participate in a game against Baltimore last month, as his previously injured knee was not fully healed.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski later commented that Wills, a first-round draft selection in 2020, had made an unfortunate choice of words regarding his absence.

Wills had appeared on the injury report as a full participant earlier in the week, but with his absence confirmed, the Browns turned to the 6-foot-8, 374-pound Jones, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft from Ohio State.

After Jones was injured, Germain Ifedi, a reserve tackle, filled in for him in the lineup.

In a further turn of events, Browns defensive back Denzel Ward was also seen leaving the field after sustaining a hard hit during the second quarter, which led to a lost fumble by Saints tight end Taysom Hill within Cleveland’s territory.

The team reported that Ward had a chest injury but he managed to return for the first series of defense in the second half.