CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns rookie safety Grant Delpit’s season is over before it began.
An MRI confirmed Delpit suffered a torn Achilles Monday and will require surgery. He is expected to mis the entire 2020 season.
“Very disappointed for Grant,” head coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday. “He is disappointed, but I think he has the right mindset to bounce back. Unfortunate to see that, but we are fully supporting him, and then we will make sure that he attacks his rehab.”
Delpit was placed on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.
A two-time All-American at LSU, Delpit was selected 44th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft and expected to start as a rookie.
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who watched Delpit closely at LSU, was disappointed to hear Delpit's season was over before it began.
“As soon as he got drafted, I hit him [up],” Beckham said. “As soon as this happened, I hit him [up]. It is just tough. Honestly, it is just the position that we are in. It makes it hard. We are all going hard, and it is football. We get injured. I hit him and I told him I am here for him or anything he needs as far as recovery standpoint or as far as mental.
“Anything he needs, I am here for him. I just know it is tough. I know what it is like to put so much work in and have so much expectations, hopes, aspirations and dreams and then be let down. What does not kill makes you stronger. I believe that he will come back bigger and better than he was before.”
Delpit suffered the injury during non-contact individual drills early in Monday’s practice, which saw four defenders go down as the injuries pile up for Stefanski and the Browns.
“It was very disappointing,” defensive coordinator Joe Woods said. “It was kind of a freak deal, just going through catching the football. He was doing good. He was coming on. The one thing you know is he will be able to rehab, come back and help us next year.”
Cornerback Greedy Williams left practice early after suffering a shoulder injury and Stefanski did not have an update Tuesday.
“I would say we will see. Still evaluating,” Stefanski said.
M.J. Stewart, who was filling in for Kevin Johnson at nickelback, suffered a hamstring injury. Johnson was hospitalized last week with a lacerated liver and is out for an undetermined amount of time.
Undrafted rookie linebacker Solomon Ajayi also left the field with a trainer after taking a shot to the groin region. The team officially said he left because of heat.
Linebacker Mack Wilson is also out for the foreseeable future – possibly the season – after suffering a hyperextended knee last week.
Center JC Tretter is also recovering from knee surgery.