What awaits Browns LT Spencer Fano in regular-season debut vs. Jaguars?

BEREA ― The life Spencer Fano signed up for when the Browns drafted him and immediately converted him to left tackle is one of a steady diet of elite pass rushers. It's a life the No. 9 overall pick is committed to living now that the regular season has arrived. "I'm ready," Fano said Sept. 7. "I know it's going to be a challenge, like you said. But I'm just prepared to go out and do my best." Fano won't waste any time jumping in against one of the best pass rushers in the AFC when the Browns open the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The rookie will be asked to block a two-time Pro Bowler in Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen. Subscribe to Browns Insider newsletter Cleveland Browns vs New England Patriots: Photos from preseason game The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Hines-Allen is coming off consecutive eight-sacks seasons. However, he's not too far removed from a career-high 17.5 sack in 2023, which was the second time he earned both double-digit sacks and a Pro Bowl berth since being the No. 7 overall pick in 2019. "I mean, he's a very powerful rusher," Fano said. "I feel like there's a lot of things that he can do with his length and his power. Not only that, if he gets you to settle down a little bit, he can get you a speed. So he's a very good rusher and I'm excited for the challenge." Hines-Allen may have only had eight sacks in 2025, but that only tells a portion of his story rushing the passer. He had, according to Pro Football Focus, a career-high 95 total pressures for the 13-win AFC South champions, including a career-best 21 quarterback hits. The benefit Fano has facing Hines-Allen in his first career regular-season game is what he's essentially spent the last month and a half doing. One of the ways he's been accelerating his development is his daily practice battles with Browns defensive end Jared Verse. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse, whom the Browns received as the centerpiece of their return for Myles Garrett, has built his still-evolving pass-rush style around power. So, in many ways, Fano's been prepping for this test from the start of training camp. "Oh yeah, for sure," Fano said of the comparisons between Hines-Allen and Verse. "Two very strong rushers, which I'm excited to go against." Fano played right tackle every year but his freshman season while at the University of Utah. Not only that, but the Utes also boasted another NFL-caliber tackle on the left side in Caleb Lomu. However, Fano said having a dedicated pass rusher on his speciific side wasn't necessarily the norm during his college days. That's more due to the defensive schemes than the players they faced. "In college, I feel like we didn't go against too many teams that just played one guy on one side," Fano said. "Majority of the time the dudes would switch either based off a position of the field or, and that's usually what it was. Someone played the boundaries, someone played the field. So we usually got to see the same guys every week." Hines-Allen, though, will only be the first of many edge-rushers Fano will have to deal with as a rookie. In the AFc North alone, there's going to be the Baltimore Ravens' Trey Hendrickson and the Pittsburgh Steelers' duo of Nate Herbig and Alex Highsmith. Outside of the division, there will be others of varying levels of notoriety. There's also varying skillsets in terms of how they try to get to the passer. Fano has reverted the only thing he's known in his still-brief time in the league. He's using experience against other Browns' pass rushers like Derek Barnett, Sam Williams and Isaiah McGuire as part of his preparations for the multiple ways a pass-rusher could come at him. "I feel like you just got to watch the film," Fano said, "and then in practice try to get as many looks of those as you can. And yeah, just watch the film see who your opponent is." Buy Cleveland Browns tickets There's another aspect to Fano's preparation that will help against Hines-Allen this week, and whoever the subsequent challenges are going forward. Despite dealing with a triceps injury, which he deemed a "tweak," the last couple of weeks, he's been able to continue to develop the chemistry with the other four offensive linemen. Fano has now spent the last four-plus weeks working, when he's practiced, alongside left guard Zion Johnson. That's allowed for him to forge that chemistry needed between the two linemates. "Honestly, so much more comfortable," Fano said. "I feel every day I'm getting a little better. It's the same thing, every day I'm getting more comfortable being on the left side." 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. Sign up for Browns Insider newsletter at https://profile.beaconjournal.com/newsletters/browns-insider/ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: What awaits Browns LT Spencer Fano in regular-season debut vs. Jaguars? Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.