Browns' injury list is surging

Kellen Winslow Jr. has a broken leg and Courtney Brown has a torn ligament.
BEREA (AP) -- Kellen Winslow Jr.'s hyped rookie year may be over after it barely began -- much like a promising season for the Cleveland Browns.
Courtney Brown is done, too. Another serious injury has ended the former No. 1 overall draft pick's 2004 season and perhaps the defensive end's career as well.
Winslow broke his right leg Sunday and will miss at least two months with the injury, one of six sustained by Cleveland starters in a loss at Dallas.
The roll call of other banged-up Browns includes: defensive tackle Gerard Warren (pulled chest muscle), cornerback Daylon McCutcheon (broken middle finger), right tackle Ryan Tucker (strained quadriceps) and left guard Paul Zukauskas (strained knee ligament).
And then there's Brown, who tore a ligament in his left foot, ending another comeback. It could be the final setback for the talented but seemingly fragile Brown, whose determination to keep coming back from injury has inspired his teammates.
Hard luck
Brown has been sidelined by injuries to both knees, his ankle, neck and elbow. Now it's his foot.
"He's frustrated," Browns coach Butch Davis said. "He feels like he let the team down. He apologized. Nobody cares more than Courtney Brown does. He just has some hard luck."
The team said Brown would undergo surgery today and would need six months to recover. The former Penn State standout will be placed on injured reserve for the fourth straight year. He may soon be joined there by Winslow.
Davis may choose to end Winslow's first pro season after two games by putting him on IR.
"It is something that we have discussed and at this time the answer is 'No,' " Davis said.
But as Cleveland was reminded by the 19-12 loss to the Cowboys, things can change very quickly in the NFL. Just a week ago, the Browns were riding high after a surprising win over Baltimore in their season opener.
Euphoria has been replaced by despair.
"It's a huge hit," said Warren, who will miss at least two weeks after aggravating a strained pectoral muscle. "There's so much that he [Winslow] brings to this team."
Worse than 2003
Unfortunately, good luck isn't part of Winslow's package as the Browns have again been ravaged by injuries. Last season, Cleveland ended the year with 13 players on the injured list and had 10 offensive players miss a combined 65 starts.
This season has been even worse, with three first-round draft picks hurt already. It was a troubling sign when Davis was accompanied to his weekly news conference by head trainer Mike Colello to discuss the Browns' recent rash of injuries.
"I was brought in because of the unusual circumstances," Colello said.
Winslow fractured his fibula -- a bone in his lower leg -- while scrambling for an onside kick in the final seconds.
The first-round draft pick was to have surgery today and needs screws and plates inserted to stabilize the break that was clean through the bone, Colello said.
Winslow is expected to make a full recovery in 10 weeks, but unless the Browns are still in the playoff hunt, it wouldn't make sense for him to play in a few meaningless games and risk another setback.
Another factor in Davis' decision on Winslow could be the return of tight end Steve Heiden, who is expected to be back at practice after being sidelined with a knee injury.
"His availability will help dictate how we approach things with Kellen," Davis said.