Browns rookie Austin Barber in line to start at right guard with Jenkins sidelined

The Browns are preparing rookie Austin Barber to start at right guard in Sunday's opener against the Jaguars, with veteran Teven Jenkins still sidelined by a back injury.

Jenkins left Wednesday's practice early and has not been on the field since, missing Thursday and then Friday, when he was the only player on the 53-man roster not practicing. Barber, a third-round pick out of Florida in April's draft, has been taking the first-team reps in his place and appears set to make his NFL debut.

Cleveland's offensive line has been a focus all week, with right guard suddenly the most unsettled spot on the unit. Barber's promotion is less about a change in plan than about the hand the Browns have been dealt: the rookie was already next in line, and Jenkins' absence has pushed him into a starting job before he has played a regular-season snap.

Head coach Todd Monken was expected to address the situation after practice, and the Browns will have to decide whether Jenkins can return in time to reclaim the job or whether the rookie holds it into the early part of the schedule.