Kirksey, Gaines hit injured reserve for Browns
The losses are piling up for the Cleveland Browns — in the standings, and on the sideline.
On Wednesday, two defensive starters were added to the stack. Cleveland placed linebacker Christian Kirksey and cornerback E.J. Gaines on injured reserve, ending their seasons with seven games remaining and putting further strain on a unit lacking quality depth and experience.
“Those two guys, they really set a precedent for what we wanted to do as a team, as a defense,” cornerback T.J. Carrie said. “We’re going to definitely miss that. Those are two players that we can’t replace.”
Kirksey, a team captain, suffered a left hamstring injury on Sunday against Kansas City as the Browns (2-6-1) lost their fourth straight game. Earlier, Gaines suffered his second concussion in three weeks when he took a knee to the helmet while trying to make a tackle.
A fifth-year pro, Kirksey has played on the weak side and in the middle this season, making 43 tackles and two interceptions.
“Kirko is kind of the heart and soul of the defense, heart and soul of the team in the locker room, on the field, just how he goes about his business,” said linebacker Joe Schobert, who returned to practice after missing three games with a hamstring injury. “It’s the next-man-up mentality, but there are things that you’re going to miss.”
Schobert’s return will help ease the loss of Kirksey, and the Browns are expected to have defensive back Damarious Randall for Sunday’s game against Atlanta after he missed last week’s game with a groin injury.
Meanwhile, the Browns confirmed Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant signed with the New Orleans Saints, though his status for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals is unclear.
that general manager John Dorsey will head the team’s search for a new coach after team owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam fired Hue Jackson on Oct. 29, ending speculation that the Haslams would not involve Dorsey in the process.
Receiver Dez Bryant has found a new team, agreeing to join the already productive offense of the surging New Orleans Saints.
The former Dallas Cowboys wideout, who has been a free agent since April, will team with Drew Brees, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in NFL history.
“There is certainly a skill set that he has that is going to be beneficial,” Brees said of Bryant. “So I look forward to getting to work with him. I look forward to building a rapport with him. I look forward to getting him involved in this offense and just become a complement to all the guys that we already have.”
It remains unclear to what extent Bryant will play when New Orleans visits Cincinnati on Sunday.
• Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill still has pain in his injured throwing shoulder and will rest it for the next several days, which means Brock Osweiler will make his fifth consecutive start against Green Bay. The Dolphins are 2-2 with Osweiler as a starter.
• Jets quarterback Sam Darnold could be headed for the sideline this week with a strained right foot. Coach Todd Bowles said Darnold was “day to day,” putting the rookie’s status in doubt for Sunday’s game against Buffalo.
• Running back Darren Sproles returned to practice for Philadelphia after missing seven games because of a hamstring injury, and he is expected to play Sunday night against Dallas, coach Doug Pederson said.
• Minnesota claimed running back Ameer Abdullah off waivers from Detroit. Abdullah was drafted by the Lions in the second round in 2015, but he wasn’t used much this season. He has 1,251 yards rushing and 57 receptions in his career.
• The Falcons made a move to bolster their lackluster pass rush by agreeing to a one-year deal with defensive end Bruce Irvin.