Browns Star Gets Candid About Mental Health During Disapointing Season

It's been a rough first season in Cleveland for defensive end Jared Verse. 

The two-time Pro Bowler has yet to record a sack through his first nine games in a Browns uniform and has only registered 15 pressures as well. Beyond just getting to the QB, Verse has recorded just 20 tackles, four for a loss. 

For a while, it seemed reasonable to show some patience for the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year, who was abruptly uprooted to a new team and a new system that he simply wasn't used to. It's not lost on him that he hasn't played well, as he admitted on Thursday. 

"I think we can all get to the quarterback," Verse said on Thursday. "But I think myself, I'm mainly going to put it on myself. I haven't played well at all this season. I think after taking a little bit of time looking at me at what I could do better because I think that group goes as I go. That's my mindset in anything I do."

With the season now beyond its midway point, though and Verse's struggles and continuing pressure is mounting against him. Making matters worse, former Browns star Myles Garrett, who was sent to Los Angeles to acquire Verse and multiple years worth of premium draft picks, returned from injury last weekend to record a three-sack game. 

The struggles have left Verse desperate for answers. So he apparently went to find some. Verse revealed on Thursday that he recently met with the Browns' team psychiatrist. In doing so, he seems to have identified some sort of mental block that was holding him back. 

"Obviously, I'm upset with the way I've been playing," admitted Verse. "I don't think it's anything physical It was nothing wrong with my body. It's nothing like that. I think it was the mental aspect of the game and I think I've attacked it very well these last couple of weeks But I think this past week is a big key thing that I've done that I'm very excited for this next week." 

Verse chose not to elaborate on what exactly he seemed to identify in his conversations with Dr. Pandya. The hope, though, is that the adjustment is reflected in his play on Sunday when the Browns welcome the Houston Texans to town in Week 10. 

Clearly, the Browns view the 2024 first-round pick as an important part of their future and face a pivotal decision this offseason regarding whether or not they want to pick up the fifth-year option in his contract. 

If he's truly found a solution and can put together a strong back half of the season, it would go a long way in silencing a lot of the noise that seems to be drowning him at the moment.