The Browns have lost wide receiver and their starting returner Jakeem Grant for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon, according to Ian Rapoport. The Browns placed him on season-ending injured reserve, and they will turn to Jerome Ford and Donovan Peoples-Jones to help fill the void left by Grant.
Grant took the opening kickoff return, and his right leg caught onto the field, buckling under him. He had an air cast put around his right leg. He did not play during the first three games of the preseason with the Browns while recovering from a torn achilles he suffered last year in training camp. He signed a three-year deal with the Browns last year, and the team anticipated Grant becoming a significant force in the return game for them.
The former Falcons and Bears wide receiver has put together a successful career. A two-time Pro Bowler, Grant is one of the league leaders in return yards since he entered the league in 2016. Over that span, Grant’s posted 3.927 return yards with six touchdowns throughout his long career. Grant has torn both achilles tendons in his career, though this injury appears utterly different from those injuries. Grant has remained healthy throughout his career despite those two significant injuries.
Now, he faces another long recovery and rehab process to return to the field. Cleveland also released former third-round pick, Anthony Schwartz, ending the experiment for the speedy receiver they drafted to boost the team’s receiving corps with his game-breaking speed out of Auburn.
Since then, Schwartz has dealt with injuries and inconsistencies within his game that have added to this point. In 2023, Cleveland should see a different wide receiver corps with the additions of Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman. Amari Cooper and Peoples-Jones remain constants for Deshaun Watson and the passing offense.
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