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After Sunday's 25-20 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns center Cameron Erving was taken to University Hospitals by ambulence. The team announced he was experiencing cramps at the end of the game, as well as discomfort in his chest and ribs. After further testing, the Browns announced that he suffered a bruised lung, and will remain hospitalized overnight:
#Browns say Cam Erving diagnosed w/ pulmonary contusion & will remain in hospital overnight for observation.(Bruised lung can be v. serious)
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) September 19, 2016
In 2013, former Browns outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo suffered a bruised lung in the preseason, forcing him to miss 3-4 weeks of action. Erving will probably be out that length of time at a minimum. Depending on how serious the contusion is, he could be out longer.
Although the Browns have a center on the practice squad, the expectation is that right guard John Greco will move over to center, and that Alvin Bailey will enter the starting lineup at right guard. Another option for Cleveland to consider would be Greco and current right tackle Austin Pasztor each sliding over one spot, and then either rookie Spencer Drango or Shon Coleman taking over at right tackle.
Erving wasn’t the only injury Cleveland had to worry about after the game. Starting quarterback Josh McCown will undergo an MRI on Monday on his left shoulder, which was hurt pretty badly throughout the game against the Ravens. This feels a bit like deja vu from the previous week, when Robert Griffin III had an MRI on his left shoulder. The news turned out bad for Griffin, and Mike Silver of the NFL Network says the Browns are bracing themselves for the worst with McCown too:
The Browns are bracing themselves for possible bad news on Josh McCown's shoulder. Won't know for sure until the morning. @nflnetwork
— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) September 18, 2016
If McCown can’t play next Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, rookie Cody Kessler would get the start, and rookie Kevin Hogan could be promoted from the practice squad, with Terrelle Pryor continuing to serve as the emergency quarterback.
Rookie defensive end Carl Nassib suffered some form of injury to his hand during the game, and didn’t appear to play much, if at all, afterward. Unfortunately, the team offered no update on his status. Tight end Randall Telfer had also left the game with a neck injury.