/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56297493/usa_today_10223361.0.jpg)
Cleveland Browns middle linebacker Tank Carder left the team’s preseason Monday Night Football matchup against the New York Giants with a knee injury.
Carder was injured in the closing moments of the first quarter and remained down on the field for a few moments before walking off the field.
Carder’s potential return to action was quickly ruled out after he went back to the locker room for evaluation.
Injury update: LB Tank Carder will not return (knee)#NYGvsCLE
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 22, 2017
The severity of the injury is unclear, and it’s unknown whether he would have returned if the injury happened in a regular season game and not the team’s second preseason matchup.
In his place, second-year linebacker Joe Schobert made several high-impact plays, including a near interception-turned-deflection that saved what would have been a touchdown pass by Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Carder has been pegged as the team’s “starting” middle linebacker, although defensive coordinator Gregg Williams will presumably use schemes with two linebacker on the majority of defensive plays.
We’ll have updates on Carder’s knee as they become available.