When G Zak Zinter first became of member of the Browns, he walked into an offensive line room filled with veterans and Pro Bowlers.
He knew he would learn from players like LG Joel Bitonio, RG Wyatt Teller, C Ethan Pocic, RT Jack Conklin and others who have built successful NFL careers as offensive linemen. He also knew he would have to earn his opportunity on the field.
Yet, he continued to prepare throughout the offseason and be ready for any opportunity to be on the field. He's earning that chance now as the Browns prepare for Week 4 against the Raiders and the Browns are working through injuries to their offensive line.
"I got drafted and came into room with two Pro Bowl vets in front of me and just held the mindset of learn as much as I can from them," Zinter said. "And they told me since day one, 'you're one play away.' So, here we are."
Zinter said he's used the week to prepare for larger role and more responsibility on gameday. The veterans in the room have also helped, walking him through the game plan and instilling confidence in him on the practice field.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the Las Vegas Raiders at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Running back D'Onta Foreman (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Fullback/Center Nick Harris (53) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Dawand Jones (79) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Tony Brown II (38) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Ricky Lee III (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety D'Anthony Bell (37) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez (60) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Linebacker Michael Barrett (48) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive tackle Ricky Lee III (63) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Pass Game Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach Chad O'Shea during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive guard Germain Ifedi (65) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Tight end Geoff Swaim (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Running back Gary Brightwell (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Pass Game Specialist/Tight Ends Coach Tommy Rees during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Defensive end Elerson Smith (52) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 25, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
Wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on September 26, 2024.
In his first three games with the Browns, Zinter has not committed a penalty and not allowed a sack. Zinter's snap count increased from Week 2 to Week 3, when he played 14 snaps against the Jaguars to 34 snaps against the Giants.
In Week 2, Zinter took the field as a part of a "jumbo" lineup, where he was eligible at tight end. Then in Week 3, Zinter stepped into a larger role. He had been on the sideline throughout the first half, watching the offensive line go to work against the Giants. Yet when Teller sustained a knee injury in the third quarter, Zinter held onto his mentality of taking the field and attacking his opportunity.
"Zak did a nice job," head coach Kevin Stefanski said of Zinter's Week 3 performance. "He's a guy that we think highly of. I thought he went in there, really didn't miss a beat, communicated well. So, he's somebody that we trust should he be in there."
The Browns dealt with more than just Teller's injury to their offensive line, which caused them to shift players around to different positions on the offensive line. Stefanski said their backup offensive linemen have to be able to play multiple positions, and highlighted how Zinter has worked to understand all five positions on the offensive line.
Bitonio said because Zinter comes in as the sixth offensive linemen, he knows the plays from multiple positions, which can help him be successful when he has to go in and fill in at a certain position.
"(Zinter) played right guard in college, so he kind of goes back to home base a little bit," Bitonio said. "But I think getting the experience of playing everywhere just give that knowledge of how to play works. And, using your hands different ways and stuff where, when you come back to your home base, he's going to feel more comfortable."
Zinter said offensive line coach Andy Dickerson also has worked closely with him this week as they prepare for their next matchup. He's walking Zinter through different elements in the film room or on the practice field and building up his confidence to step into his role against the Raiders.
Dickerson noted after Week 2 how the game reps for Zinter, even in a different role, are important for the rookie.
"I think anytime, starting off with Zak and any of our guys who are able to participate in that role, they're very smart, they're diligent and it gives them a heightened awareness for the game," Dickerson said. "If they're active for that game, specifically that role, it allows us some flexibility to do multiple things, which Kevin has done for many years in his past. […] And Zak takes a lot of pride in that. But it's great, especially as a rookie, to get those experiences and get out on the field."
As Zinter navigates the nuances of his rookie season and the how the Browns handle injuries to their offensive line, he has those veteran players to turn to for advice. And he's done just that since he walked into CrossCountry Mortgage Campus for the first time.
"He's very locked in," Bitonio said. "So anytime there's a question, or anytime, like Wyatt or myself give him a coaching point, I feel like he's just eager to learn and understand it. I mean, he's been a great rookie. He just wants to help and do all that stuff. So, it's been cool to see and obviously we don't want to see Wyatt go down, but I'm excited for him to get out there and compete and do his thing."
