The defensive line is still losing guys for the Cleveland Browns. Ogbo Okoronkwo, an edge rusher in his fifth year, sustained a torn pectoral muscle. Maurice Hurst was the other Cleveland defensive lineman to suffer a torn pec during the team’s victory over Jacksonville last week. Okoronkwo is the second.
Before tearing a pectoral muscle, the 28-year-old edge rusher was enjoying one of his best seasons in a short career. Okoronkwo finished with 31 tackles overall (22 solo), 12 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. On a career-high 56% of defensive snaps, this output was achieved.
Okoronkwo was by no means the finest defensive lineman for the Browns, but he was still able to produce at a level that will be missed. It was tremendously helpful for Cleveland to have someone who could essentially act as a designated pass rusher and cover Myles Garrett on the other edge.
While it is far from a given, the Browns should be able to cope without Okoronkwo.
In the absence of Okoronkwo, Za’Darius Smith will have to step up and prove to the Browns what they believed they were getting when they signed him in Minnesota. Although Smith hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations when playing alone, he was able to team up with Okoronkwo to avoid becoming the colossal presence that it has been for far too long.
This might develop into a problem, just like the majority of Cleveland’s injuries. The problem is not with Okoronkwo’s injury per se, but rather with a number of injuries that have gotten worse as the season has gone on. If talented players keep leaving, it will eventually become too much to handle. This can lead to a dismal conclusion to a season that was once seemed hopeful.
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