# Browns Rookie Locks Starting Spot

> Cleveland Browns rookie Austin Barber earns starting right guard role after impressive Week 1 performance.
- Title: Browns Rookie Locks Starting Spot · Cleveland Browns On SI
- Summary: Cleveland Browns rookie Austin Barber earns starting right guard role after impressive Week 1 performance. Cleveland Browns rookie Austin Barber secured the…
- Keywords: austin barber, cleveland browns, tampa bay buccaneers, september 20, right guard, rookie offensive linemen, pro football focus, spencer fano, sports, Browns, Rookie, Locks
- Source: Cleveland Browns On SI — https://si.com/nfl/browns/onsi/browns-rookie-did-enough-to-impress-coaching-staff-locked-down-long-term-spot-01m2ngmfrj8z
- Published: 2026-09-16T17:12:18+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: austin barber, cleveland browns, tampa bay buccaneers, september 20, right guard, rookie offensive linemen, pro football focus, spencer fano, sports
## Austin Barber's Week 1 Impact
Austin Barber made a great impression in his first regular season game in the NFL.
## Highest-Graded Rookie Performance
He earned the highest-graded performance of rookie offensive linemen across the league with a mark of 82.6, nearly 10 points ahead of the next best.
## Filling Teven Jenkins' Void
He stepped up to fill the void left by Teven Jenkins, who was ruled out due to injury days before the season opened.
## Mid-Week Starter Confirmation
Barber said after being named the starter mid-week: 'You got to be prepared to go play. I was prepared for anything to happen. I just have to go out there and perform.'

> You got to be prepared to go play, I was prepared for anything to happen. I just have to go out there and perform
## Coach Monken's Impression
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Browns head coach Todd Monken shared he was impressed with Barber's performance, especially on short notice.
## Starting Spot Confirmed
Just a day later, Monken confirmed the third-rounder out of the University of Florida did enough to earn the starting spot at right guard.
## Future Up Front Bright
With Barber and rookie Spencer Fano, the Browns build a dynamic duo that looks especially bright for the future up front.
## Key takeaway

Cleveland Browns rookie Austin Barber secured the starting right guard position after earning the highest-graded performance among rookie offensive linemen in Week 1.