Hostile
The Duke
- Messages
- 119,565
- Reaction score
- 4,544
Cleveland Browns lineman Eric Steinbach injures knee
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Starting left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns' blockbuster signing of the off-season, fell on his right knee in practice Tuesday afternoon and could miss up to two weeks.
"We're having it evaluated," said coach Romeo Crennel. "We were inside on the turf and he came down on the knee. I would say he bruised it, but I haven't looked at it, and I'm not the doctor, so I don't know."
Steinbach walked off the field about midway through practice with trainer Marty Lauzon and didn't return. He wasn't limping, but his knee brace was loosened. He may have undergone an MRI and wore a sleeve on the knee later in the day.
Although the injury is not believed to be serious, Steinbach's departure from the field threw a scare into the Browns.
The No. 1-rated offensive free-agent, Steinbach was signed away from the Bengals to a seven-year deal worth $49.5 million, including $17 million guaranteed. Last season, the Browns signed center LeCharles Bentley to a $36 million free-agent deal and then lost him for the year on the first contact drill of camp.
Even a few weeks can be a setback for the revamped offensive line, which was already shaken up in the past week when it was announced right tackle Ryan Tucker would be suspended for the first four games of the season because of steroid use.
That bumped rookie Joe Thomas up to the starting job at left tackle and moved Kevin Shaffer from left to right. Backup guard/center Lennie Friedman worked in Steinbach's place Tuesday and most likely will start Saturday night against the Chiefs if Steinbach can't go.
"That's my job," said Friedman, who started two games for the Browns last season. "Any chance I get to play is great."
McGinest gets examined:
Starting left outside linebacker Willie McGinest, 35, flew to Los Angeles to have his doctor examine his back, which sidelined him the past two days. Crennel said he won't know the extent of the injury until those results are in.
"He started off tight, and he had a back issue when we were in New England," Crennel said. "We looked at it and let his doctor [in L.A.] take a look at it. Something caused the tightness and the pain, so we'll get it evaluated and go from there."
Free-agent pickup Antwan Peek, who's been hampered by a hamstring injury, got most of the reps in McGinest's absence Tuesday and probably will start Saturday night.
Other injuries:
Linebacker Matt Stewart is having further exams on his sore left shoulder. . . . Guard Andrew Hoffman got hit on the elbow and left practice. . . . Receiver Tim Carter got hit on the thumb and was idle.
"As these injuries begin to mount up a little bit, that's a little concern going into a game," Crennel said.
Anderson on Quinn:
Derek Anderson said he thinks the quarterback competition was already intense without Brady Quinn here.
"We've been pushing each other every day," Anderson said. "I don't know if it can get any higher. Obviously he'll need some time to adjust and deal with you guys giving him a hard time for a little bit. But it'll be good to get him in."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Starting left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns' blockbuster signing of the off-season, fell on his right knee in practice Tuesday afternoon and could miss up to two weeks.
"We're having it evaluated," said coach Romeo Crennel. "We were inside on the turf and he came down on the knee. I would say he bruised it, but I haven't looked at it, and I'm not the doctor, so I don't know."
Steinbach walked off the field about midway through practice with trainer Marty Lauzon and didn't return. He wasn't limping, but his knee brace was loosened. He may have undergone an MRI and wore a sleeve on the knee later in the day.
Although the injury is not believed to be serious, Steinbach's departure from the field threw a scare into the Browns.
The No. 1-rated offensive free-agent, Steinbach was signed away from the Bengals to a seven-year deal worth $49.5 million, including $17 million guaranteed. Last season, the Browns signed center LeCharles Bentley to a $36 million free-agent deal and then lost him for the year on the first contact drill of camp.
Even a few weeks can be a setback for the revamped offensive line, which was already shaken up in the past week when it was announced right tackle Ryan Tucker would be suspended for the first four games of the season because of steroid use.
That bumped rookie Joe Thomas up to the starting job at left tackle and moved Kevin Shaffer from left to right. Backup guard/center Lennie Friedman worked in Steinbach's place Tuesday and most likely will start Saturday night against the Chiefs if Steinbach can't go.
"That's my job," said Friedman, who started two games for the Browns last season. "Any chance I get to play is great."
McGinest gets examined:
Starting left outside linebacker Willie McGinest, 35, flew to Los Angeles to have his doctor examine his back, which sidelined him the past two days. Crennel said he won't know the extent of the injury until those results are in.
"He started off tight, and he had a back issue when we were in New England," Crennel said. "We looked at it and let his doctor [in L.A.] take a look at it. Something caused the tightness and the pain, so we'll get it evaluated and go from there."
Free-agent pickup Antwan Peek, who's been hampered by a hamstring injury, got most of the reps in McGinest's absence Tuesday and probably will start Saturday night.
Other injuries:
Linebacker Matt Stewart is having further exams on his sore left shoulder. . . . Guard Andrew Hoffman got hit on the elbow and left practice. . . . Receiver Tim Carter got hit on the thumb and was idle.
"As these injuries begin to mount up a little bit, that's a little concern going into a game," Crennel said.
Anderson on Quinn:
Derek Anderson said he thinks the quarterback competition was already intense without Brady Quinn here.
"We've been pushing each other every day," Anderson said. "I don't know if it can get any higher. Obviously he'll need some time to adjust and deal with you guys giving him a hard time for a little bit. But it'll be good to get him in."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670
