:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/57591827/usa_today_10407086.0.jpg)
Injuries are part of the game, and most teams can overcome them, but losing Jamie Collins for the rest of the season is a blow the winless Cleveland Browns can’t overcome.
UPDATE: The Browns placed Collins on injured reserve.
We've placed LB Jamie Collins Sr. on injured reserve
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) November 14, 2017
Details » https://t.co/OqakBh9s1b pic.twitter.com/xEzcadP5I7
Collins will miss the rest of the season after suffering a torn MCL during the team’s 38-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Browns LB Jamie Collins has a torn MCL and is out for season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2017
Collins intercepted Matthew Stafford, turned up field and was rolled on by Detroit Lions lineman Graham Glassgow, his knee twisting awkwardly as he fell to the turf.
“[Jamie Collins] has an MCL that will keep him out the rest of the year. That is unfortunate,” coach Hue Jackson said on Monday. “That is a big blow to our defensive football team because he is one of our best players, one of our leaders and one of our really good locker room guys.”
Jackson said he’s not certain whether Collins will need surgery, but he confirmed the injury will keep him sidelined for the rest of the season.
Collins signed a four-year, $50 million contract extension last January. He collected $15.85 million for playing in six games this season, per the Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot.
James Burgess, who replaced Collins at outside linebacker, will act as his replacement moving forward. Burgess has started twice this season and appeared in seven games, tallying 19 tackles, two sacks, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in that limited action.
The Browns had their starting defense finally on the field together, and they looked good too, but it lasted just six plays before losing Collins for the game.
They have also locked in another losing record, an unimaginable 10th-consecutive season with more losses than wins, and their 17th since the franchise returned to Cleveland in 1999.
Losing Collins may not matter in terms of the team’s 2017 success, because that ship has sailed, but missing their defensive leader for the next seven games hurts the development of their defensive unit.
Collins does a lot for their defense in terms of leadership on the field because of his knowledge and experience. So it’ll be up to Christian Kirksey and youngsters Joe Schobert and Burgess to respond as leaders in his absence.