The Browns and their fans rejoiced Thursday night after Cleveland clinched a playoff spot. However, receiver Elijah Moore couldn’t be there for the celebration.
Coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Moore, the third-year wideout from Ole Miss, spent the night at the hospital after suffering a concussion in the second quarter of the Browns 37-20 win over the Jets.
“He is home now,” Stefanski told reporters Friday afternoon. “He’s in concussion protocol, so we’ll just work through that over the next few days with him. Glad that he’s back home.”
Moore’s injury was a scary one. He’d just made his fifth catch of the game. But as he was tackled, Moore landed face first into the grass. His arms twitched involuntarily as teammates motioned for the athletic trainers. He was helped up and walked to the injury tent for an examination. Then he walked to the lockerroom.
“He’s doing better,” Stefanski told the media. “Those are always scary.”
Browns receiver faced his old team Thursday night
Moore is in his first season with the Browns. On Thursday night, he faced his old team. The Jets selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Back in March, the Browns sent a second-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Moore and a third-rounder. The former Ole Miss All-American had requested the trade months before. With 59 catches this season, Moore already has exceeded his career high.
After trading for Moore, Stefanski acknowledged how valuable the young wideout could be to the Browns offense.
“I’m sure it’s been well reported that we want to use the kid in a bunch of different ways,” Stefanski said during training camp. “Teams know that we’ll hand it to him, that we’ll throw it to him. As you know, there’s no shortage of plays.”
It’s been a turbulent year for the Browns offense. Cleveland has used four different starting quarterbacks. Deshaun Watson‘s season ended with a shoulder injury. And rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson also is on injured reserve. The Browns signed 38-year-old Joe Flacco, a former Super Bowl MVP with the Ravens, last month. And a rejuvenated Flacco, who had been out of football all season, has won his last three starts.
With Amari Cooper sidelined with a heel injury, Moore stood out early in the game with five catches for 61 yards and a touchdown. Flacco also relied on tight end David Njoku, who caught six passes for 134 yards.
The Browns end the regular season, Jan. 7, on the road against the Bengals. Moore will need to pass all five phases of concussion protocol before he can return to action.
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