Berea, OH (92.3 The Fan) – Browns linebacker Christian Kirksey entered the 2018 season with high hopes – for his team and himself.
It started in June when he tweeted that they would shock the world and make the playoffs after going 0-16 last year.
As the team prepares to play their 10th game of the season Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons the optimism has faded, the Browns are 2-6-1 and Kirksey’s season has come to a shocking end.
“I did not think that it was going to cost me the rest of the year, but I got an MRI and it was worse than I thought,” Kirksey said.
Kirksey was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday after suffering a pulled hamstring against Kansas City last Sunday and he posted a message for fans on Twitter Friday.
“I gave everything I had on the field, unfortunately I can’t control injuries but I can control my attitude! I’ll be back next year ready to strap up for the Land again. No one loves this team and city as much as I do...well besides the greatest fans in sports! CLEVELAND BABY!!” Kirksey wrote.
With seven games to go, Kirksey understands why the team made the decision to IR him rather than wait the injury out.
“It makes sense,” Kirksey said. “I am not a selfish person. If I know I am down and I can’t be the type of player that this team needs me to be, then the decision that we made was the right one. I do not want to put myself in a position where I hurt this team. Right now, I am just trying to get healthy as fast as I can and still be a team leader for the guys in this locker room.”
The loss of Kirksey, whom fellow linebacker Joe Schobert referred to this week as the “heart and soul of the defense” opens the door for a pair of young players in Genard Avery and Tanner Vallejo.
“When I went down last week, I thought that Tanner did a great job getting in there and making the plays that he made and just hopping right in there and doing what he was asked to do,” Kirksey said. “Genard, he has been playing well for us this whole season. He has been playing not like a rookie. He has been playing like he has been doing this for a while. I am excited to see them go and take the top off of this and just be the best players that they are expected to be.”
Although Kirksey won’t be a presence on the field, he plans to be one off it.
“Given that we only have a certain amount of weeks left in the season it’d be kinda hard for me to come back that fast,” Kirksey said. “I understand it and it sucks, but my head is in the right place. I’m in good spirits and as long as living and breathing and able to still help my teammates mentally and help guys that may need some help in the linebacker room or anywhere else on defense, I’m always here and I’m going to continue to be the person that I am.”
Despite their record, another impending coaching change and the injury, Kirksey still hasn’t lost faith that better days are ahead for him and the Browns.
“It’s just a minor setback,” Kirksey said. “The way I think of it, I just gotta keep getting better, keep doing things I can to be the best football player I can be. You’re never gonna find quit in me. That’s not in my blood lines so I’m going to try my best to get back to 100 percent.”
