Browns stay tight-lipped on QB Delhomme

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The Browns are keeping Jake Delhomme’s injured right ankle under wraps.

The team did not provide a medical update on Delhomme, who underwent an MRI on Tuesday after injuring his right ankle while throwing a game-swinging interception late in the first half of Sunday’s season-opening loss at Tampa Bay. It was the veteran’s debut with the Browns.

Delhomme played the entire second half on an ankle coach Eric Mangini described as being “twisted up” by his quarterback. A team spokesman said the Browns “will not have anything on Jake,” and declined to offer any other information.

The Browns play host Kansas City on Sunday in their home opener. If Delhomme can’t play, backup Seneca Wallace could start against the Chiefs (1-0).

Mangini is expected to provide an update on Delhomme before practice today. Delhomme, who threw two picks in Cleveland’s 17-14 loss, is also scheduled to speak with reporters as the Browns begin installing their game plan for the Chiefs.

Following the interception, Delhomme seemed to be walking fine. But after his next play, a short pass to Mohamed Massaquoi, he came up limping and grimacing and then walked gingerly into the locker room at halftime.

Delhomme seemed to be walking better when he came out after the break, but CBS analyst Rich Gannon made much of the injury, pointing out how Delhomme was favoring the leg in the second half. He went on to throw another interception in the fourth quarter while completing only 9 of 19 attempts for 121 yards.

Should the Browns have kept him on the field — especially with Wallace on the bench?

“We talked about that,” said Mangini. “[Offensive coordinator] Brian Daboll and [Delhomme] talked, so there was communication.”

But Mangini divided the blame-pie into three hefty pieces, starting with the fact that Delhomme should’ve taken the sack instead of flinging it while falling.

“Yes and really that was one component of it,” said Mangini. “He should’ve done a better job there of either throwing it away or eating it — ideally, throwing it away because of the field position that we had with two timeouts left. Throw it away, move on to the next down. That was one part of it.”

Part two was Thomas letting White blow past him, although Mangini didn’t name him.

Then there was the route-running, in which someone was supposed to run to the middle of the field — possibly Watson. Instead, Watson and Chansi Stuckey ended up near each other on the right.

Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer contributed to this story.