Attrition is just part of sports. And when that sport involves players slamming into each other, injuries happen a lot more frequently.
In the 32-13 loss to the New England Patriots, the Cleveland Browns
lost two of their biggest contributors to injuries during the game. Linebacker Carson Schwesinger suffered a high ankle sprain while the team’s leading rusher, Quinshon Judkins, sustained a shoulder injury.
Both of the injured players happen to be rookies, but they are also key contributors to both sides of the ball.
Schwesinger leads the Browns in total tackles with 64. He is tied with six other players for the 11th most tackles in the league and has started all eight games. He also has three pressures, one sack, one interception, one knockdown, one hurry, and four missed tackles. His lone interception came earlier in the New England contest.
Schwesinger’s injury happened with just over seven minutes left before halftime when defensive end Isaiah McGuire rolled into Schwesinger’s leg, causing the injury.
Judkins left the Patriots game midway through the third quarter after he grabbed a two-yard pass from quarterback Dillon Gabriel. He had nine carries for 19 yards and three receptions for minus-2 yards before leaving the game. He is Cleveland’s leading rusher with 486 yards and has scored five touchdowns.
Both players just happened to be the Browns’ second-round draft picks in this year’s NFL draft.
Schwesinger was waiting for an MRI on Monday after leaving the Patriots game in a walking boot. The initial diagnosis pointed to a high-ankle sprain, which is an injury that can keep a player out for 4-6 weeks. After testing.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on Monday that Schwesinger did indeed suffer a high-ankle sprain on his right ankle. Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the injury on a Zoom call with the media Monday morning, but did not get into specifics other than to say that the team “will see how (Carson) looks coming out of the bye. That’s really like a week-to-week injury.”
When asked about the possibility of Schwesinger being placed on the injured reserve list, which would keep him out a minimum of four games, Stefanski said he doesn’t believe that will be necessary.
The Browns went into the Patriots game with just five healthy linebackers, so the group was already thin. If Schwesinger misses any time, Jerome Baker or rookie Easton Mascarenas-Arnold would likely take Schwesinger’s spot. Edefuan Ulofoshio is currently on the practice squad and is a natural middle linebacker.
As for Judkins, Stefanski said the injury is day-to-day, but was not able to say if Judkins would miss any time. If the injury persists, Jerome Ford, who has 73 rushing yards and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, would likely move into the starting role.
Other injury updates from Stefanski included safety Rayshawn Jenkins, who suffered a groin injury and is day-to-day, and cornerback Tyson Campbell, who left Sunday’s game with a concussion.
The Browns have their bye week this weekend, which will assist with the recovery period of the injured players.
