Every team is prepared to go into the playoffs and possibly win a division title when the season kicks off.
But you have to go through stuff to really gel as a team. That is when the veterans are relied upon to get the roster together and focused. They know things happen, and it is what happens next that either allows the franchise to continue to move forward or fall apart.
For the remainder of the season, the Cleveland Browns have already lost the following starters: RT tackle Jack Conklin, RB Nick Chubb, QB Deshaun Watson, and KR Jakeem Grant. Backups include LB Jacob Phillips, Jordan Kunaszyk, OG Drew Forbes, WR Michael Woods, and CB Cameron Mitchell.
Then after Sunday’s victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the coaching staff found out that S Rodney McLeod was going to be added to this list.
The others are certainly heartbreaking, but McLeod was as steady as they came on this elite defense. The seasoned veteran was quietly having a very good season which was not gauged on tackles, interceptions, sacks, or any other defensive stats. He was a defensive leader, a tutor, a coach on the field.
McLeod suffered a biceps injury in the fourth quarter of the Pittsburgh win and will need to have surgery to repair it. He has since been added to IR and will remain there for the remainder of the season. To add to this disaster, the other starting safety Juan Thornhill was inactive for the Steelers game with a calf injury.
That leaves D’Anthony Bell and rookie Ronnie Hickman on the field to join starter Grant Delpit as the other safeties on the roster besides practice squad members Vincent Gray and Tanner McCallister.
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