Cleveland Browns place linebacker Jacob Phillips on injured reserve

The Browns placed linebacker Jacob Phillips on injured reserve on Wednesday due to the torn pectoral muscle he sustained in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Phillips is likely to have season-ending surgery on the injury. He's the second starting Mike middle linebacker to go on injured reserve this season, joining defensive co-captain Anthony Walker Jr., who sustained a torn quad tendon on Sept. 22 against Pittsburgh.

“Any injury to the team, it is tough, especially Jacob and the injuries we already had in the linebacker room," linebacker Sione Takitaki said Monday. "It will definitely hurt, but we will be with him and he will be around the team. It is obviously the nature of the beast. Next man up. It is the National Football League so guys are going to step in and be ready.”

Phillips, a 2020 third-round pick out of LSU, has battled injuries throughout his Browns career. He missed six combined games his rookie season with a knee injury, as well as one game due to COVID-19.

Phillips started last season on injured reserve with a biceps injury that cost him the first 12 games that season. He also missed another game due to COVID.

“I feel for all of our guys when they are going through these," coach Kevin Stefanski said of Phillips on Monday. "It is not fun to be hurt. It is not fun to be in the training room. It is not fun to go get surgery. Unfortunately, Jacob has had to do that. I know this — he responds when he has to do this. He works like crazy. I know he will work like crazy to get back out there.

"Unfortunately, injuries are part of our game. You see it too often in this league, and it is so unfortunate for the players and in this case Jacob, but it also is part of the game."

This season, Phillips had played in all seven games for the Browns, starting the past four after Walker's injury. He leads the team with 46 total tackles, with 29 solo and 17 assists, plus two sacks and one pass defensed.

Phillips had a team-high-tying seven total tackles in last Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Ravens. He left the game in the fourth quarter due to the injury.

Deion Jones, who was acquired Oct. 9 from the Atlanta Falcons, will likely start now at middle linebacker. Jones made his Browns debut on Sunday in Baltimore, posting five combined tackles, four solo, and one tackle for loss.

“Deion Jones is a dynamic player," Takitaki said Monday. "He is a proven player who has been a Pro Bowl-caliber guy. It was good for him to get out there and get his feet wet. We are excited to see as he continues to go. I think he is only going to get better from here on out. I am excited to play with him and see all of the great things that he can do on the field to help us out.”

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Browns place linebacker Jacob Phillips on injured reserve