Cleveland Browns LB Chris Gocong Out For Season With Ruptured Achilles Tendon
The Cleveland Browns have already started off on the wrong foot as it is not even preseason yet and there is already an injury to the team’s defensive core. Linebacker Chris Gocong will be out for the remainder of the season wit a ruptured Achilles tendon. Gocong was targeted as being the go-to-guy in the linebacker spot with Scott Fujita suspended. Now the Browns will have to look elsewhere.
Gocong injured himself defending a touchdown pass in practice. He immediately went down in pain grabbing his lower leg in the endzone. Gocong did not make contact with any other player during the play.
The Browns will now have to look elsewhere to try and find a defensive replacement for Gocong. How are the Browns going to be able to replace the man that was supposed to replace Fujita? Gocong recorded 67 total tackles, 3.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and three forced fumbles last season.
Once Gocong left the field, he was rotated out by rookie James-Michael Johnson and Kaluka Maiava. Undrafted rookies L.J. Fort and Craig Robertson also received more practice time at the linebacker position.
Head coach Pat Shurmur told reporters:
“We have enough veteran guys around here and quite frankly, anybody that’s come to our team has played enough football where they’ve seen injuries happen. As I mentioned, it’s the unintended consequence of this game. I thought they bounced back fine.
I don’t want an injury at any position, so we’ll just keep moving ahead. We’ll find out what’s wrong with Chris; we’ll find out how long he’ll be out and then, we’ll keep moving forward. Nothing can stop the train. We’ve got to keep going.”
We will see who will earn Gocong’s spot at the beginning of the season.
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