Better late than never, the Browns’ offensive line is showing it no longer is the discombobulated bunch it appeared to be in the first seven games. It is no coincidence that the improved blocking from the line began when right tackle Jack Conklin returned from a serious knee injury suffered in the season opener last year followed by a hamstring injury suffered in practice this season just as he was ready to return from the knee injury. Jameis Winston was sacked only once Nov. 21 when the Browns beat the Steelers, 24-19. Coach Kevin Stefanski did not call out the guilty party, but he absolved the offensive line of blame. It was a critical play because it resulted in a strip sack in the fourth quarter. The Steelers converted the takeaway into the touchdown that gave them a 19-18 lead midway through the quarter. Kevin Stefanski goes into game-planning for playing in a snowstorm as the #Browns did Thursday when they beat the #Steelers, 24-19. He also praises right tackle Jack Conklin. pic.twitter.com/W89PY9oqVc — Jeff Schudel (@jsproinsider) November 22, 2024 “Our offensive line was really good throughout the (night),” Stefanski said. “I thought Jameis did a nice job in his pocket movement. But to give up one sack vs. a very good front and the sack itself, I would not put on the offensive line. So that was really well done by those guys.” Wyatt Teller was the right guard, Ethan Pocic the center, Joel Bitonio the left guard and Germain Efidi the left tackle. The game with the Steelers gave two of the best pass rushers in the league — Myles Garrett of the Browns and T.J. Watt of the Steelers — the chance to show the country in a nationally televised Thursday night game which is the better player. Garrett won the duel. He sacked Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson three times for 20 yards. One was a strip sack. He was in on two other tackles. Watt, blocked by Conklin most of the night, was in on four tackles, but he never touched Winston. “Jack’s a guy that has played well for us,” Stefanski said. “We trust him. Watt’s a great player. He’s really a great player. He has our respect. He certainly gets our attention in these games, but Jack did a great job.” Conklin suffered a torn ACL, MCL, PCL and meniscus after colliding with Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson in the first quarter of the 2023 opener. His rehab did not get the attention running back Nick Chubb got as Chubb rehabbed, but it was just as grueling. Elbow and knee injuries forced Conklin to miss nine games in 2021. An ankle injury sidelined him for three games in 2022. Stefanski joked that Conklin would be fined by his teammates on the offensive line if the head coach singled him out for praise. But when asked about the injuries Conklin has endured, Stefanski did not hold back. “I hope that doesn’t get lost on anybody because he has been through the wringer with this injury and to bounce back and play at the level that he’s playing at has been really impressive,” Stefanski said. “Sorry, Jack.” Conklin, 30, is a humble man. He deflected praise when asked about his success against Watt. “It was a team effort,” Conklin said. “I had a lot of help, and the snow definitely helps, too. But it was a team effort. Quarterback’s playing fast. Had some help with some shifts and stuff. Just kept working.” Conklin has kept working ever since the Browns signed him in free agency in 2020.