The Cleveland Browns placed safety and leading tackler Grant Delpit (groin) on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his regular season.
Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Delpit already underwent surgery.
Delpit could possibly return for the playoffs, should the Browns qualify. The Browns (8-5) would be in as the fifth seed in the AFC if the season ended today. However, Delpit has to miss at least four games and there are just four games remaining. The Browns host the Chicago Bears (5-8) this week.
Further, defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo is expected to be lost for the rest of the regular season after sustaining a torn pec in last week’s game, though Stefanski said he’s holding out hope. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, placed on IR Tuesday, underwent surgery to repair his torn pec, Stefanski said.
Delpit, 25, just signed a three-year extension worth $36 million, including $23 million guaranteed earlier this week. He would have been eligible for free agency after the season.
Delpit was injured in Sunday’s win over Jacksonville. He had started all 13 games and is leading the Browns with 80 tackles. He also has 1.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery.
Delpit, who missed his rookie season with a torn Achilles, has 251 tackles and six INTs in 45 games (36 starts) in the three seasons since. The Browns selected him in the second round of the 2020 draft.
Okoronkwo, 28, is second on the team with 4.5 sacks in 13 games (no starts) this season, his first in Cleveland. Okoronkwo has 14 sacks in 63 career games (eight starts) with three teams.
In a corresponding move, the Browns signed safety Duron Harmon to the active roster from the practice squad. The 32-year-old veteran has 23 career INTs in 164 career games (79 starts) with five teams.
The team signed offensive tackle Joey Fisher to the practice squad.