The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Browns lose LB Collins for year
The news just keeps getting worse for the 0-9 Browns.
Linebacker Jamie Collins, one of the Browns’ best defensive players, will miss the rest of the season with a right medial collateral injury suffered in the first quarter of a 38-24 loss to the Lions on Nov. 12 in Detroit. James Burgess will take Collins’ spot in the starting lineup Nov. 19 when the Browns host the Jaguars, Coach Hue Jackson said Nov. 13 while announcing the news about Collins.
“(Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) goes right to Plan B because I think Gregg is always prepared when those things do happen,” Jackson said. “We play in so many different packages, you just go to this.
“That being said, as the head coach of the team, that’s difficult when you lose one of your best players. Nobody is going to feel sorry for what happened. But at the same time, I think they (the Lions) knew one of the best players was out of the game and he could have helped if he was healthy. To all of us — Gregg, myself and the defensive unit — we can’t worry about it. We’ll miss him, but we have to find a way to get it done.”
Collins was injured intercepting a pass that set up the Browns’ first touchdown. For the first time all season, the Browns had their starting defense on the field for the same time. That changed just five minutes into the game. “It’s tough,” linebacker Christian Kirksey said. “You’re losing your captain, one of your playmakers out there on the defense. It’s tough to see him go down, especially after the play that he made. It’s definitely devastating to see. I know Jamie. He’s a guy who thinks positively and is encouraging. We are going to stand behind my brother and next man up.”
Collins was acquired from New England on Oct. 31 last year for a 2017 thirdround draft choice. Jackson said he is unsure whether Collins will need surgery.
“I think he was right on the cusp of making those special plays that we anticipated he would make,” Jackson said. “He’s a tremendous guy in the locker room, on the practice field, how he works and how he leads. We love him as a player. We’ll miss him.”
Collins missed three games with a concussion and barely played long enough against the Lions to work up a sweat before being injured, but he is still fifth on the team with 31 tackles. He has one forced fumble, two pass breakups and the interception from the Detroit game.
Collins wasn’t the only casualty in the Detroit game. Right tackle Shon Coleman suffered a concussion in the third quarter.
Coleman is in the concussion protocol. Zach Banner, inactive for the first eight games, replaced Coleman and was on the field for 24 snaps.