Key Browns Defender Gets Troubling Injury Update After Loss to Jets

A 17-12 loss to the New York Jets in Week 5 was accompanied by more bad news for the Cleveland Browns on Monday.

According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the team's star linebacker Carson Schwesinger suffered a Grade 1 ankle sprain during the game, leaving his status for Week 6 very much uncertain at the moment. 

It was noticeable during Sunday's contest that Schwesinger was playing through an injury and he hobbled his way around the field, but continued to play. Despite the injury, Schwesinger made one of the biggest players of the game in crunch time, forcing a strip sack of Jets QB Geno Smith with 4:10 left to play, which was recovered by the Browns. 

For a moment, it appeared the play was going to seal a fourth-straight victory for Cleveland, but the Browns offense went three-and-out on the ensuing possession, then committed a costly turnover of their own on the punt, as Corey Bojorquez couldn't handle the snap and fumbled it back to New York. 

In defeat, Schwesinger, still provided a herculean effort for Cleveland, headlined by the strip sack. The 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year finished with eight total tackles, the sack, fumble and a pass breakup. He's the team leader in tackles with 43, through five weeks. 

Following the game, Schwesinger was seen leaving the locker room in a walking boot, which made for plenty of speculation over his status moving forward. His availability for Week 6 will ultimately depend on how he progresses with the injury this week. 

Schwesinger now joins an ever-growing list of injured players that the Browns are suddenly dealing with. Entering Week 5, Cleveland ruled out five players due to injury, headlined by star defensive tackle and Schwesinger's 2025 draft classmate Mason Graham due to a knee injury suffered one week prior.

Fellow defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. was also ruled out because of an ankle injury as were WR Tylan Wallace, G Teven Jenkins and TE Carsen Ryan. 

For what it's worth, running back Quinshon Judkins was also seen leaving the locker room in a walking boot following Sunday's loss to the Jets. There's no word yet on his status for a pivotal Week 6 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, which will determine an outright leader in the AFC North. 

In an ideal world, the Browns will can get several players back this week in time for Sunday's kickoff with Baltimore.