NFL insider drops first injury update on Browns DT Mason Graham that could be a major win coming for Cleveland
Thursday night was great for the Cleveland Browns, but the injury outcome for Mason Graham is going to be crucial. We have our first hint on just how bad the injury could be.
The Cleveland Browns are riding as high as they have been in quite some time. A 27-24 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night moved Cleveland to 3-1, and the Todd Monken era is off to a hot start in Northeast Ohio.
It was mostly good news for the Browns in primetime, especially with a big AFC North win coming this early in the season.
However, the night came with a scare. Defensive tackle Mason Graham, who has been a breakout player through the first few games, suffered a knee injury on the Steelers’ first drive of the game and did not return.
Mason Graham injury update brings cautious optimism
Based on the way Graham went down, it looked like it could be a significant knee injury. On the optimistic side, Graham walked off the field with the help of trainers. He was not carted back to the locker room, which was an encouraging sign in the moment.
Now, hours after the game, the latest intel brings more reason for optimism. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport provided an update on where things stand with the Browns’ young defensive tackle.
“He is going to get an MRI today,” Rapoport said. “Early belief is that he’s dodged a bullet and maybe it is not a significant knee injury. If that is the case, it would be excellent news for the Cleveland Browns. Cautious optimism probably is the right way to describe it, but the MRI is going to be the tell all to determine how much time he is going to miss.”
Mason Graham has taken a leap in his second season
Graham has four sacks in four games so far, with all of those coming in the first three contests. The former top-5 pick has looked like a player ready to take a major leap for the Browns in his second year in the NFL.
Along with those four sacks, Graham already has 15 tackles. That is a big step forward from his rookie season, when he finished with 49 tackles and a half sack. The production jump has been impossible to miss.
Additionally, Graham has filled a major void up front. With Myles Garrett gone, Graham has stepped up in a big way as a productive pass rusher from the middle of Cleveland’s defensive line. Missing him for any stretch would hurt this team, so avoiding a serious knee injury would be a huge win for the Browns. He is a player they can’t lose if they want to be at their best, simply put.
Browns have depth, but Graham is the top of the room
Cleveland does have defensive tackle depth, and that showed against Pittsburgh. Both Mike Hall Jr. and Adin Huntington got home for sacks of Aaron Rodgers on the big stage Thursday night. That kind of production from the rotation is a good sign for a defense that wants to keep winning games up front.
Still, Graham is at the top of that defensive tackle room. He is the most important player in that unit for the Browns, and having him on the field is vital for the defense’s success under defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg. The pressure he creates from the interior makes life easier for everyone else along the line.
As Rapoport noted, the MRI is going to be telling of how serious this injury is. Right now, it looks like some good news could be coming for Cleveland. The next few days will show whether the Browns truly dodged a bullet with one of their best young players.
