CLEVELAND — If the 2023 Cleveland Browns could be described in a single phrase, there may be none more appropriate than "next man up."
That description continues to be put to the ultimate test as the regular season draws closer to it's end.
Following the Browns' 31-27 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team announced the injuries suffered by both starting offensive tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. and Dawand Jones would end their seasons.
Tuesday, defensive tackle Maurice Hurst announced on his X account (formerly Twitter) that a torn pectoral muscle injury he suffered in Sunday's game will end his campaign. Hurst has been one of the most consistent forces in the Browns' revamped defensive line, appearing in all 13 games this season while racking up 22 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, 3 passes defended, an interception, and a fumble recovery.
Now today, the Browns announced the season-ending injuries of two more key pieces to Cleveland's defense.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, who has fit right in with Jim Schwartz's new-look unit in his first year with the team, will likely miss the rest of the season with a pectoral injury, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. Okoronkwo has played in all 13 games this year, recording 4 1/2 sacks, 22 tackles (12 for loss), and 8 QB hits.
Fresh off signing a three-year contract extension in the days leading up to Sundays game, safety Grant Delpit has been placed on injured reserve after having surgery to repair a torn groin muscle. Aconsistent force in the secondary, Delpit has played all 13 games for Cleveland this year, tallying 63 solo tackles (7 for loss), an interception, 4 QB hits, and a fumble recovery.
The losses of Delpit and Okoronkwo may come with a silver lining: It may be wishful thinking due to the nature of their injuries, but Stefanski left the door open for either player to return in the playoffs.
You can exhale now, but if what you read above has put a sour taste in your mouth in what has been an otherwise great season, tread carefully as you continue to read.
Below is a list of players that are currently out for the regular season as of Wednesday, Dec. 13:
- QB Deshaun Watson
- RB Nick Chubb
- RT Jack Conklin
- RT Dawand Jones
- LT Jed Wills
- LB Jacob Phillips
- S Rodney McLeod
- WR/KR Jakeem Grant
- S Grant Delpit
- DT Maurice Hurst
- DE Ogbo Okoronkwo
Note that this is just the list of players out for the year. Defensive stars Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward have dealt with their own injury issues lately, with Ward missing the last three games due to a shoulder issue. Linebacker Jordan Elliot, safety Juan Thornhill, defensive end Za'Darius Smith, center Ethan Pocic, and running back Jerome Ford all still continue to battle ailments, as well.
You'd never know that the Browns own an 8-5 record if you only looked at the weekly injury report. You wouldn't think that 14 weeks into the season, on their fourth starting quarterback, this team owns the best win-loss record among AFC wild-card teams. It's worth mentioning that 8-5 is also the same record as the defending NFL champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Nothing has been easy for the 2023 Cleveland Browns, and although a quick glance at the remaining four games shows two teams effectively out of the playoff race, the "next man up" philosophy will be more important than ever for the team to clinch its third playoff appearance since 1999.