NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE

By MARY KAY CABOT

Browns’ Smith may be out for the ’08 season

The defensive end suffered a left Achilles injury on Monday night.

BEREA — The season of expectations is quickly devolving into a season of operations.

Another week, another key veteran with a potentially serious injury that might require surgery.

As if losing to the Steelers, 10-6, Sunday night and dropping to 0-2 wasn’t bad enough, the Browns lost starting defensive end Robaire Smith to a left Achilles injury, possibly for the season.

Smith underwent an MRI Monday morning, results of which were not made public. But a source close to the situation guessed it’s a season-ending tear.

“We’ve found out it’s an Achilles, so he’s not in the best of shape,” said coach Romeo Crennel. “A big man and an Achilles is a tough thing to deal with. We’ll see how severe it is and make some decisions from there.”

If Smith is lost for the season, he’ll be the third key defensive player placed on injured reserve since May. Cornerback Daven Holly suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in minicamp and linebacker Antwan Peek tore a patella tendon the week before the opener. In addition, safety Sean Jones underwent athroscopic knee surgery last week and will be out up to five weeks.

“That’s tough [losing Smith],” said linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. “You can’t replace Robaire Smith. He’s an animal inside. He doesn’t take a lot of crap from anybody on that field, whether it’s practice or in the game. But this happens every year and you’ve got to be ready for it. Romeo preaches it all the time, ‘backups, when you’re called upon you’ve got to be ready to do your job.’ ”

The loss of Smith, coupled with Holly and Peek, is a blow to a defense that was trying to rebound from finishing 30th in the NFL last season.

“To lose those guys, you don’t expect it,” said Jackson. “Those guys were going to play a lot and meant a lot to this football team. But good football teams — the Patriots are 2-0 and Tom Brady is out. If they can replace a quarterback — we’ve just got to pick it up in other areas.”

With Smith out, Shaun Smith will most likely start in his place, foiling the plan of rotating him in a lot at nose tackle to keep Shaun Rogers fresh. The Browns will also move end Louis Leonard and possibly rookie nose tackle Ahtyba Rubin up in the rotation. If need be, the Browns can also call up 2007 sixth-round pick Mel Purcell, an end, from the practice squad.

“Louis [Leonard] is just waiting his time,” said Jackson. “Louis is a player. He’s been a little banged up with his ankle or whatnot, but Louis is going to help us a lot.”

Shaun Smith had his left hand wrapped in a big ice pack Monday, but wiggled his fingers under the ace bandage and said, “I’m moving my hand. I’m good.”

He admitted that Robaire Smith’s injury is a blow.

“It’s bad when we lose one of our veterans because we lose some of the chemistry we’ve worked so hard on the whole off-season, in training camp and the first two games,” said Smith.

“But I’ve got confidence in Shaun [Rogers], Corey Williams and myself. Louis and Rubin too. Guys just have to step up and get the job done.”

He said to talked to Robaire Smith, who hobbled out of the locker room on crutches and in a walking boot with players offering their condolences.

“He’s in good, high spirits,” said Shaun Smith. “You hate for something like that to happen, but it’s the nature of the game.”