Browns' pain persists

Twelve players have gone on injured reserve this season.
BEREA (AP) -- Ryan Tucker hobbled into Cleveland's quiet locker room, tossed his crutches to the floor, stood as straight as his aching knee would allow and made an opening statement.
"I'm out for the year," the Browns right tackle and best offensive lineman said. "I'll have surgery."
And so it goes for the luckless Browns.
Tucker's season is over, and so is Cleveland's. The Browns dropped their fourth straight game on Sunday, a 10-7 loss to the New York Jets that underscored everything that is wrong with embattled coach Butch Davis' team.
The Browns squandered scoring opportunities. They failed to stop New York's offense when they had to. They couldn't come up with a big play when they needed one. Kicker Phil Dawson missed two field goals after making 27 in a row. Cleveland lost yet another close game under Davis.
And, the Browns (3-7) suffered more significant injuries, including one to starting quarterback Jeff Garcia, whose strained rotator cuff could sideline him for a few weeks and open the door for rookie Luke McCown to play.
Nearly four years into Davis' tenure, Cleveland appears to be going in the wrong direction. The Thanksgiving turkey isn't even in the oven and the Browns have already been eliminated from winning the AFC North -- with six games remaining.
"Obviously we didn't plan on being in this situation," said Tucker, who tore the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and is the 12th Browns player to go on injured reserve. "What got us here are losses."
The Browns may get a few more before this season is finished.
Tucker and Garcia were the two best healthy starters remaining on Cleveland's offense, which has been ravaged by injuries since Week 1. The medical situation has forced Davis to play "musical chairs" with his offensive line from week to week.
Bengals are next
On the right side alone, the Browns will play a backup guard, tackle, and tight end when they face the Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) this Sunday.
It's still unclear if Cleveland will have to use a backup quarterback, too.
Garcia injured his right shoulder when Jets defensive end Shaun Ellis landed on him while he threw an incomplete pass late in the first half. After getting treatment, Garcia returned to the sideline in the third quarter but didn't go back in because he didn't have enough strength to grip the ball.
Kelly Holcomb played instead, leading the Browns on a 14-play drive that featured Cleveland's only two third-down conversions in 13 tries. Holcomb couldn't spark Cleveland and finished 4-of-10 for 32 yards.
"That's a tough spot," Holcomb said. "Hopefully I'll do a better job."
He may get a chance this Sunday. Holcomb was named Cleveland's starter over Tim Couch before last season but lost his job when he broke his leg and then played poorly when returning. If Garcia isn't healthy, either Holcomb will make his first start of the season or McCown could make his NFL regular season debut.