Injured pectoral muscle to sideline Browns’ Jackson for several weeks

Associated Press

BEREA

There’s another new, gaping hole in the middle of the Browns’ defense.

They may actually be able to plug it this time.

Starting inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson will be sidelined for a few weeks — and possibly longer — with an injured right pectoral muscle, the second chest muscle injury the dependable four-year veteran has sustained in less than a year.

Browns coach Eric Mangini said Thursday the team will let Jackson’s injury “quiet down” for several weeks. He will begin rehab and be re-evaluated.

At this point, there are no plans for surgery, but Jackson is getting a second opinion from Dr. Frank Cordasco, the New York-based surgeon who repaired his left chest muscle in October.

Agent Brian Mackler said he may have a update later on Jackson.

Jackson, who missed Cleveland’s final 10 games last season when he tore the muscle away from the bone during a game against Pittsburgh and needed surgery, injured his right muscle during practice Tuesday. He left the field and was visibly upset when he returned to watch the final 30 minutes.

The temporary loss of Jackson will force the Browns to shuffle their linebacking corps, a unit the club strengthened during the off-season by signing free agent Scott Fujita, who won a Super Bowl ring with New Orleans, and acquiring Chris Gocong, a three-year with Philadelphia, in a trade.

Gocong has been playing alongside Jackson in the interior of Cleveland’s 3-4 alignment during camp. With Jackson out, Eric Barton likely will slide into the middle, a spot he owned until injuring his neck and sitting out the Browns’ final eight games last season.

Linebacker is the one position where the Browns can claim to have some depth. They’re about to find out how dense it really is.

“This will be a test,” Gocong said following the first of two practices Thursday as the Browns got ready for their exhibition opener Saturday in Green Bay. “We’re definitely going to move guys around and see what fits where. We’re going to have to move some guys around.”

Along with Fujita, Gocong and Barton, the Browns could use David Bowens, Kaluka Maiava and Jason Trusnik in the middle.

“We’ve got a lot of guys who can do a lot of things,” Trusnik said.

On paper, Cleveland’s defense looks better than last year’s group, which finished ranked 31st overall, 28th against the run. Ryan and Mangini are optimistic that his defense will be vastly improved, but they won’t know for certain until the season kicks off.

Meanwhile, the Browns will miss more than Jackson’s tackling. One of the team’s most respected players, he impressed his teammates with a strong off-season of conditioning. Disappointed that the Browns would not sign him to a long-term contract, Jackson signed a one-year tender worth $1.76 million.