The Browns’ struggling defense has another problem.
Star defensive end Myles Garrett didn’t practice on Thursday because he needs to rest a foot injury. This is just the latest issue for Cleveland’s defense, which had to put five players on injured reserve this week after losing the first game of the season.
End Za’Darius Smith is now also on the injury list with a back problem.
It is not thought that the injuries to Garrett and Smith are severe, but it won’t be clear if they will play on Sunday against Jacksonville until after Friday’s practice.
Garrett, who was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, had a sack and caused a fumble in Cleveland’s 33-17 loss to Dallas in the first week. He has played in 32 out of 33 possible games over the last two seasons.
Smith had a sack and three tackles against the Cowboys. In his second year with the Browns, Smith has not missed a game in two seasons.
It has been a difficult week for Cleveland’s defense.
On Wednesday, the team placed four defenders — safety Juan Thornhill, tackle Maurice Hurst II, and linebackers Tony Fields II and Mohamoud Diabate — on injured reserve. Each of them will miss at least four games.
Thornhill had nine tackles in the opener, which was one of his best performances since joining Cleveland as a free agent before last season.
Rookie cornerback Myles Harden was also placed on injured reserve on Thursday.
