BEREA, Ohio — One member of the Browns' rookie draft class who hasn't aroused much conversation may come under the microscope very soon. He's Jason Pinkston, a fifth-round pick from Pittsburgh.
Pinkston is listed at third-team left guard, but he was the first 
one in with the regulars Wednesday when stalwart Eric Steinbach left practice early with a tightened back. Steinbach missed the first week of practice with a knee issue.
The extent of Steinbach's back injury wasn't immediately known. He was not seen at the afternoon walk-through. Before then, coach Pat Shurmur indicated Pinkston should receive more playing time than planned Friday night against Detroit.
The day before, Shurmur said of Pinkston: "He's done some things that you need to see in an offensive lineman, as far as coming off the ball, finishing blocks. He's a real heavy-body, lower-body guy. He's got an anchor. He knows how to play the game. We're pleased with his progress."
Pinkston said it took him a while to be confident with the Browns' offensive concepts.
"It's gone pretty well considering the lockout, and we didn't have a chance to get in and learn the playbook," he said. "Kind of just picking up the mental things so I can react faster. I was a little slow at first, but I'm picking it up now, recognizing things faster."
Pinkston knows he has big shoes to fill if Steinbach doesn't play.
"The weight's on me now, and I have to step up and be able to do what he does," he said. "Watching him on film, he doesn't mess up too much, and he's doing good things."
Former Browns tackle Corey Williams lines up over the left guard for the Lions with rookie No. 1 pick Nick Fairley out for a few weeks after foot surgery.
Detroit's Ndamukong Suh, the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010, would line up over Browns right guard Shawn Lauvao. Suh reportedly was fined $20,000 for an illegal hit on Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton last week. Suh was fined $7,500 last summer for a similar hit on then-Browns QB Jake Delhomme in a preseason game.
Article source:
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2011/08/cleveland_rookie_guard_jason_p.html
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