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Jakeem Grant Sr.’s first season with the Cleveland Browns modified right away. Now, it is over.
The speedy large receiver and return specialist went down with what gave the impression to be a left Achilles damage on Tuesday, a troublesome private blow and one other setback for Cleveland’s return sport which he was going to assist flip round.
On Wednesday, follow-up exams confirmed that the 29-year-old had torn his Achilles, according to ESPN. He was positioned on injured reserve and can miss the whole 2022 season.
“I actually really feel terrible for Jakeem,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski stated Tuesday earlier than the outcomes of the follow-up exams had been identified. “We’ve witnessed how arduous the younger man has labored since he obtained to our staff. All of us understand accidents are part of our sport, however that doesn’t make it any simpler to simply accept particularly for somebody that works as arduous and carries himself like Jakeem.”
Grant was carted off the sphere after getting damage whereas battling cornerback A.J. Green throughout a one-on-one passing drill. Grant didn’t land awkwardly, but it surely shortly turned apparent he was badly damage.
Grant pounded his hand into the grass and writhed in ache on the bottom as two trainers got here to help him. He was then positioned on a cart and pushed into the staff’s facility as apply continued.
Grant made the Professional Bowl final season with the Chicago Bears. The 5-foot-6 speedster averaged 13.9 yards on punt returns and 23.4 yards returning kickoffs. He performed the earlier 5 seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
The Browns signed him to a three-year contract price as much as $13.8 million in March.
Cleveland’s return sport didn’t produce a lot final season and Grant was considered as a serious improve to the unit. He going to return punts and kickoffs.
The following choices for returners are working again D’Ernest Johnson and large receivers Anthony Schwartz, Demetric Felton and Donovan Peoples-Jones.
On Sunday, Grant stated he needed to be generally known as greater than an elite returner.
“Completely. I all the time preach that I’m a receiver first earlier than a returner,” he stated. “I’m going to proceed to evangelise that message. I’m going to proceed to work on that till I get that chance to have that breakout season.”
Grant’s damage is the most recent in what has been a troublesome camp for the Browns’ large receivers.
Rookie David Bell (foot), Schwartz (knee) and Javon Wims (sickness) all missed every week of apply. Rookie Michael Woods II (hamstring) stays out whereas Isaiah Weston (knee) was positioned on injured reserve.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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