CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns will play the remainder of the 2019 season without their permanent defensive captain.
Veteran linebacker Christian Kirksey suffered a chest injury in the Browns’ 23-3 victory over the New York Jets on Monday Night Football at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 16 and was placed on injured reserve five days later.
Initially, the Browns did not know if Kirksey would be able to take a non-surgical route to repair the damage and return at some point this season, but that no longer is the case, as he underwent surgery to repair a torn pectoral tendon.
“Right now, when I am not on the field, I want to just be that voice still and encourage my teammates,” Kirksey said last week, according the news alert released by the Browns. “I do not want to check out and worry about just myself. I still have to worry about my brothers.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday morning that Kirksey “recently had surgery to repair the chest injury,” and followed by saying “while there was some initial thought that he could return, the surgery indicates he’s done for the season.”
In his sixth season with the Browns out of the University of Iowa and currently, a three-time captain, Kirksey registered 11 total tackles, including six solo stops and five assists, through the first two games before suffering a season-ending injury for the second consecutive year.
One of the longest-tenured Browns, Kirksey played in 73 games with 54 starts. In those games, Kirksey registered 484 total tackles, including 304 solo stops, 180 assists and 11.5 sacks for 49.5 lost yards.
Also, Kirksey collected two interceptions, defended 16 passes, forced four fumbles and recovered three others.
During Kirksey’s absence, rookie linebacker Mack Wilson has stepped into the starting lineup, and the former University of Alabama standout has registered 16 total tackles, eight solo stops and eight assists, with one pass defended in four games this season.
“Mack is an intelligent, bright guy with great instincts and awareness,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said. “I think he is doing a good job. I think he is going to continue to do a good job, and he is going to continue to get better. We are pleased with Mack. We just need him to make progress each and every day.”
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi added, “I’ve seen him come to practice every day as a rookie. He’s learning the game. He still has things to learn, but he’s making the plays that he needs to make and is doing so in explosive ways, so that’s awesome.”