Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland Browns Lose Key Piece Of Defensive Line To Season-Ending Injury

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics | By Matthew Brown | Last updated 12/12/23

The Cleveland Browns have been decimated by injuries this season. They lost their left tackle in the first game of the season and his replacement, rookie Dawand Jones, was just lost for the year as well. The quarterback position has been a rotating cast of characters as well. Now, a key piece of the defensive line, Maurice Hurst is gone for the season as well with a pectoral injury.

Yet another Cleveland injury: #Browns DT Maurice Hurst suffered a torn pectoral and is done for the season. pic.twitter.com/tO2JX9euX5

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) December 12, 2023

Cleveland Browns Lose Maurice Hurst For The Season

Hurst was having a career year before the injury. According to PFF, Hurst was in the top 15 in the league in pass rush win rate. His final stats for the 2023 season will be 1.5 sacks, 18 pressures, 14 stop tackles, and two batted balls. This is a massive loss for the Browns. The defense has been what has carried the team for the whole season. While Joe Flacco provides a little more confidence in the offense, the defense is the team’s bread and butter. They will need someone else to step up and fill the void that Hurst leaves.

Outlook For The Browns

The Browns have an inside track to the playoffs. They have won enough games that they are not on the outside looking in. They control their own destiny and just need to win. While the loss of Hurst isn’t great, they still have a lot of talent on defense including Defensive Player of the Year candidate Myles Garrett. The AFC is wide open so getting hot at the right time might be enough to get to the Super Bowl.

Can the Cleveland Browns make a run? They have the pieces but will need some players to step up in order to win the AFC.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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