BEREA — Zak Zinter knew exactly when the last time he lined up split out wide like a receiver in a formation as he did Sunday in Jacksonville. However, the Browns rookie guard acknowledged there was a big difference that time.

"I think the only ever time was, I think my junior year of college," Zinter told the Beacon Journal Wednesday. "We had a two-point play where the whole line split out though — it just wasn't just me out there. So I was just making sure my foot was on check with the ref and here we go."

Zinter's first opportunity to do so as an NFL player came in the first quarter of Sunday's 18-13 win over the Jaguars. The Browns were second-and-goal from the Jacksonville 1, and he and backup center Nick Harris both reported as eligible players.

The Browns made sure the Jaguars treated him like an eligible receiver, as multiple Jacksonville defenders followed Zinter, tight end Blake Whiteheart and running back D'Onta Foreman when they shifted out into a triangle formation wide left of the formation. All of it, obviously, was with no intention of actually throwing the ball to any of them, as quarterback Deshaun Watson kept it himself for a touchdown run.

The fact Zinter didn't get a chance to catch a pass wasn't important to the third-round pick out of Michigan. The fact he got a chance to be a part of the game plan against Jacksonville, and not just on that play, was the bigger deal to him.

"It's new," Zinter said. "Just finding a role, carving out a role. Just doing whatever I can help."

The way Zinter did that against the Jaguars was to be heavily involved in a number of plays on which the Browns went with a heavy look. Sometimes it only involved him lined up as an extra tight end; other times, he was joined by Harris, who often reported as an eligible fullback.

The two of them were in together for seven offensive snaps. Zinter played a total of 14 offensive snaps, while Harris was in for 10 snaps.

"It’s always based on who’s available to us in the tight end room and then really who your offensive linemen six, seven and eight are," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said. "They oftentimes have to take on a role like that. Zak’s a young player, he’s a guard for us, but in that pinch he’s got to go out there and play that position. … So he’s continuing to get better, but very, very intelligent kid. Takes it seriously, wants to be great, really, in any role that he has.”

That was the game plan for Jacksonville. It could change, obviously, for Sunday's game against the winless New York Giants in Cleveland.

Regardless, Zinter said he understands it's an opportunity for him.

"I think they're just trying to use the guys on the roster in different spots and maximizing us," Zinter said. "Just so you know, maybe I'm out there as a muscle tight end and I'm not standing on the sideline the whole time. I think trying to utilize what we have and mix some things up."

Harris had been a veteran of the Browns' heavy packages, having made it his specialty last season. In the postgame locker room after Sunday's game, he was highly complimentary of his rookie teammate's ability to pick up the system, saying that it's "probably new territory for him, so I give him more credit, if anything,"

Wednesday, Harris expanded more on his statement, pointing out that it's not necessarily the same thing lining up at guard — Zinter's natural position — and moving out to tight end.

"I mean, when you're playing that position, when you're playing like a tight end, technically, there's formations and motions and stuff that you kind of have to learn that you're not really used to knowing when you're on the O-line," Harris told the Beacon Journal. "Obviously, centers kind of know some of that stuff, so it's a little easier in that aspect. But he's been playing mostly guard, and it's not easy just to pick up those formations and those motions and stuff fast.

"So they put a lot on his plate, and he did a great job on being able, not only to learn, but then to go out and do it."

That's on top of what the rookie has already had to absorb just with the normal playbook for his usual position. Zinter earned a significant number of reps during the preseason, at least in the three games, because he played in place of either of the team's Pro Bowl guards, Joel Bitonio or Wyatt Teller.

Those helped Zinter learn the normal stuff. However, when the coaches suggested he learn the heavy package, he took the same approach he took learning the rest of the playbook.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm just trying to be a sponge, just trying to learn as much as I can from the vets and the guys in front of me," Zinter said. "And a few weeks ago they were like, 'Hey, we might start working you in at a eligible lineman, muscle tight end deal.' So just trying to get reps some practice and walk through and just getting better every day."

Zinter's Michigan career was spent almost entirely on the interior of the offensive line. However, he did play tackle while in high school, which should give him some experience playing at the end of the line.

That's certainly true, to a point. Zinter will tell you it's a long couple of yards between the tackle and the tight end, or, from the tackle to the middle of the line.

"Yeah, I mean, it definitely helped a little bit," he said. "I mean, you're a little farther out there, a little farther away from the center hearing what's going on. Then, especially, off the ball's a little different."

Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Zak Zinter finds role as Browns rookie through heavy formations