One of the Browns’ top offseason additions may not suit up this season. The Browns are concerned that rookie safety Grant Delpit suffered an Achilles tear, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
The LSU product needed to be carted off the practice field Monday, and the team confirmed he is being evaluated for an Achilles tear. Delpit will undergo an MRI Monday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Browns used the No. 44 overall pick on Delpit, who was long expected to be a first-round pick. He, Denzel Ward and ex-LSU teammate Greedy Williams represent the three young pillars of Cleveland’s secondary. Delpit was productive throughout his three-year college career. He registered 199 tackles (17.5 for loss) and seven sacks and was on track to be an instant contributor as a pro.
Were Delpit to have torn one of his Achilles’ tendons, the Browns’ offseason addition of Andrew Sendejo will be pivotal. While Cleveland signed Karl Joseph, Sendejo would be in line to ascend from top backup to a starting role. The former Vikings starter has operated in that capacity often in his 10-year career, starting 61 games. He was a full-time starter alongside Harrison Smith from 2015-17, and the Vikes featured top-six scoring defenses in each campaign. The 2020 season will be Sendejo’s age-33 slate, however.
Oh great
Shit
Browns are used to their picks getting injured before the season starts. They always turn out fine.
Calling Earl Thomas want to come play against the Ravens in two weeks?
Anyone who has ever torn their achilles… it’s never a question. You can hear the pop. You touch your heel and it feels like silly puddy. You can’t push your foot down because the Achilles has rolled into your calf.
Ouch, bad injury. Poor guy has had to rehab a lot the last two years. I’m looking forward to Delpit coming back healthy and seeing what he can do.
In the meantime, Sendejo is not really a tit-for-tat replacement. He has been a quality player, but is certainly more of a box safety than a roaming center fielder, which is something that Delpit can do as well. Randall used to play that role in Cleveland prior to his departure. Karl Joseph also is not that type of safety. I don’t know how exactly the Browns were planning to use Delpit, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see them try and make a move to bring in a safety with more coverage versatility than Sendejo or Joseph as a precaution.
How about a trade for LaMarcus Joyner? He has experience all over the secondary and the Browns have the cap to absorb his contract. Oakland doesn’t seem too pleased with him, but I could see him bouncing back in a true starting safety role
It’d be hard for me to say, again, without having seeing Delpit’s role in that system. Joyner was good in St. Louis, and Oakland definitely misused him. The thing is, they also signed Randall to fill in the role that Joyner could not (at least in Oakland’s mind). Randall’s spot is the one that Cleveland now has to fill.
The thing is, Sheldrick Redwine is the only safety they have to line up over the top right now. He has had a little experience so they may give him a chance to win the job. I don’t think they’d give up picks for another vet. I know Woods will want to show a lot of some looks because it would protect their linebackers from having to be on the field all the time (which is likely a reason they let Schobert walk without replacing him). If they can get Joyner on the cheap, maybe. But the Browns want to get their young guys in place as soon as possible. I think Redwine gets the start, but Cleveland will likely sign someone off the street. Maybe if this were a definite playoff push instead of the first year with a new coach, they’d do it.
I thought Joyner would have been great in Houston instead of Eric Murray, as it relates to him.