By STEVE KING

Where’s Joe Thomas when you need him?

Up in the press box, in a suite or perhaps even a TV booth.

The Browns could use the longtime left tackle more than ever on Sunday against the Houston Texans at FirstEnergy Stadium in the home opener because they are all beat up at that position. Starter Jedrick Wills Jr. left last Sunday’s 33-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with an ankle injury and Chris Hubbard, who replaced him, is hampered with a triceps injury that has caused miss to practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. To make matters worse, starting right tackle Jack Conklin is battling a knee problem that is making him iffy for the Texans game.

The Browns got spoiled with Thomas. He was always there for a little over a decade. He never missed a play, let alone a game.

And he was not only there, but fantastic. He was so good that he’s going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.

But aside from his rookie season of 2007, when they were 10-6 and lost out to the Pittsburgh Steelers on tie-breakers for the AFC North championship, and then also lost out to the Tennessee Titans on tie-breakers for the conference’s second — and final — wild-card playoff spot, the Browns really struggled during Thomas’s career.

Then he retires, and a couple seasons later, the Browns go 11-5 and make it to the postseason for the first tine in 18 years and win a playoff game for the first time in 26 years, and this year they are among the teams being predicted to go to the Super Bowl out of the AFC. It seems criminal.

However, no longer do the Browns have a left tackle who shows up for work every day. And that’s criminal, too.

Why the football gods could not allow both things — a healthy left tackle and a playoff berth — to line up at the same time is anyone’s guess.

I’d rip my hair out, but I don’t have enough of it to spare.

KC postgame notes and much more

RB Nick Chubb (9.15.21)

On the Texans defense:

“I see a lot of guys who played here, for one (laughter). After that,  I see a group of guys who want to win, who play hard and who play together. Despite things that have been said about them, they are ignoring the noise, they are going out there and they are playing their butts off. I see a team that is excited to play and excited to prove themselves.”

On if it is odd seeing so many previous Browns players on the Texans roster:

“It is, but I guess that is how the NFL goes. It is part of the business. This is my first time actually seeing it happen like that – guys I have played with being across from me on the other team. I am excited to see some of the guys for one thing. I am excited to play against them, too. We have a great challenge ahead of us.”

On the Browns not losing back-to-back games last season:

“I guess because we do not like losing so we get that loss in, we go back and we try to fix and correct things and then we go from there.”

On if coaching has an element to the Browns not losing back-to-back games last season:

“Yeah, I think it is a little bit of everything. Coaches coming in and making a better plan for us and us coming here every day on the practice field, practicing better, executing better and putting everything together.”

Key dates ahead Sunday: Week 2 vs. Houston, 1 p.m.Sept. 26: Week 3 vs. Chicago, 1 p.m.Oct. 3: Week 4 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.Oct. 10: Week 5 at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m.Nov. 2: NFL trade deadline, 4 p.m.