Mission improbable: Undrafted LT Harrison replacing Joe Thomas

Undrafted free agent left tackle Desmond Harrison earned the start for the Cleveland Browns in Sunday's opener against the blitz-happy Pittsburgh Steelers.

Head coach Hue Jackson held off on confirmation of the configuration of the left side of his offensive line until Friday. He said Harrison, who fell out of the draft due to off-field concerns, would be at left tackle. It's the first time since Joe Thomas was drafted in 2007 the Browns had to worry about the spot. Thomas played more than 10,000 consecutive snaps at the position until an injury ended his 2017 season. He announced his retirement in the offseason.

Joel Bitonio also had worked at tackle -- he took more snaps than Harrison in preseason at left tackle -- but will kick inside to left guard against Pittsburgh. The interior of the offensive line is critical against the "fire zone" blitz employed by the Steelers, with inside linebackers shooting inside gaps instead of dropping into coverage.

Harrison's story is something of a pro sports marvel. He sat out of football more than two years between getting kicked out of Texas -- two suspensions, a gunshot wound to the leg and a failed marijuana test -- and the last chance opportunity at West Georgia. His play at left tackle at the Division II school opened the eyes of Senior Bowl officials, and Harrison also wound up with an invite to the Scouting Combine.

However, he reportedly failed a drug test (marijuana, again) there according to Bleacher Report and The Athletic, and went undrafted.

General manager John Dorsey, in his first year with the Browns, has always been known for giving talent a second -- or third or fourth -- chance. He opened the door to Harrison in the spring.

But a toe injury cost Harrison most of training camp and his reps were still limited by the time preseason games began.

In the past two weeks, the 24-year-old rookie made major gains, enough that he'll begin the 2018 season as the starting left tackle for the Cleveland Browns.

"He's earned it," Jackson said Friday.