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The Cleveland Browns and cornerback E.J. Gaines received some good news on Monday morning.
Gaines, who went down in Sunday’s practice with what was described as a possible “significant” knee injury, suffered a knee sprain that is expected to only keep him out for a a few weeks.
The news was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and then confirmed by Andrew Gribble of clevelandbrowns.com.
MRI on Browns’ CB EJ Gaines, who was carted off with a knee injury Sunday, showed a sprain that is expected to sideline him about three weeks, per source. “Good news,” source texted. So Gaines escaped major knee injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 20, 2018
Browns DB E.J. Gaines considered “week to week” with a knee sprain.
— Andrew Gribble (@Andrew_Gribble) August 20, 2018
The Browns signed Gaines to a one-year deal worth $4 million in the offseason. He played in defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ system with the Rams from 2014 through 2016, although he missed the 2015 season with a Lisfranc foot injury. Gained played last season with the Buffalo Bills.
Gaines is competing for a roster spot in a crowded cornerback position group that includes first-round draft pick Denzel Ward, incumbent slot cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun, and fellow free-agent signee T.J. Carrie, among others.
The injury is thankfully not as bad as it first seemed, but it remains to be seen how much the setback hurts Gaines’ chances of making the final roster or it it will drive general manager John Dorsey to make a move for a free agent cornerback that might still be on the market.