CLEVELAND — Zak Zinter has had a lot thrown at him through his still very-young NFL career.

Still, the Browns rookie guard admitted he wasn't prepared for the offensive line combination he found himself part of in Sunday's 21-15 loss to the New York Giants.

With 5:17 remaining in the third quarter, Zinter — who had previously come in to replace an injured Wyatt Teller at right guard — found himself between right tackle Dawand Jones and center Nick Harris. On the other side of the line was Ethan Pocic, who had moved from center to left guard because Joel Bitonio had to move from left guard to left tackle.

That was exactly one of the original starting five linemen in the same place they had been at the game's beginning because of injuries. Even the one still in his spot, Jones, had been replaced at the start of the quarter and only returned due to his replacement, James Hudson III, being injured.

"I don't think that scenario had come up," Zinter said afterward, "but we're able to adjust on the fly and make it happen, get out there and finish the game."

Those words weren't just about the entire offensive line. They also spoke to Zinter himself.

For the first two games of Zinter's NFL career, he was asked to be an extra, serving as, in his words, the "muscle tight end" in the Browns' heavy packages. However, in his third game, the third-round pick out of the University of Michigan found himself asked to do what they drafted him to do, which was to play guard.

Coming in for Teller, a Pro Bowler who left with a knee injury, wasn't how Zinter necessarily drew up the debut in that role. Still, it was the way it happened for him when, with 9:40 remaining in the third, he went out with the rest of the Browns offense to start its second third-quarter series.

"I felt good," Zinter said. "We had some injuries throughout the week. We're always preparing — next man in, you're only one play way — so praying for the guys that got banged up and they'll heal up for sure."

Teller is scheduled to have an MRI Monday to determine the severity of the injury. Barring some quick healing by him over the next week, it would be difficult to see him playing in next Sunday's road game at the Las Vegas Raiders, if not even beyond that game.

That means Zinter might find himself, for the time being, in a much more important role. However, it's a role for which he said Teller has had a big hand in helping him prepare since he was drafted in April.

"You'd never want to see that with any of your teammates," Zinter said. "And Wyatt's been nothing but great to me as an older vet, trying to teach me and help me everyday at practice. So it's devastating to see."

Zinter, more than most, can appreciate the pain, both physical and mental. Last November, he suffered a broken leg during Michigan's win over Ohio State when his future Browns teammate Mike Hall Jr. fell into his leg.

The injury ended Zinter's season, preventing him from playing in either the Big Ten championship game or Michigan's national championship playoff run. It also likely impacted his draft stock, dropping him to the third round, where Cleveland took him.

Now, Zinter's going to get a chance show what he's learned, not just about himself and about his healthy offensive line mates.

"A lot of us cross train, you know what I mean?" Zinter said. "It's not ideal. You don't want guys to get hurt, but we make the best of it. Guys can move around and make do with what we have."

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's 'next man in' as Browns offensive line adjusts vs. Giants