Cleveland Browns training camp day 11: Jakeem Grant Sr. suffers Achilles injury, put on IR

BEREA − Jakeem Grant Sr. became the latest Browns wide receiver to sustain an injury during training camp.

Grant went down during a pass play in Tuesday's practice with an Achilles injury, the team confirmed. He was immediately attended to by the training staff before being carted off into the facility.

Tests confirmed on Wednesday the tear, the team announced. He'll be placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

“I really feel awful for Jakeem," coach Kevin Stefanski said in a statement Tuesday from the team. "We’ve witnessed how hard the young man has worked since he got to our team. We all realize injuries are a part of our game but that doesn’t make it any easier to accept especially for someone that works as hard and carries himself like Jakeem.”

Grant was working in one-on-one drills when he landed on his left leg after going up for a pass. He immediately went down in pain.

It's the second time in his career Grant has suffered an Achilles injury, and both times were essentially non-contact. The same thing happened during the 2018, also while the receiver/return specialist was lined up at receiver.

"That was just an accident," Grant said Sunday of the 2018 injury. "I didn’t get hit that play any, at all. It was just something that was a freak of nature that happened, and I’m all healed up."

In that same interview with reporters on Sunday, Grant was asked about his ability to avoid big hits due to his 5-foot-6, 170-pound frame. Those larger hits, in theory, would lead to more injuries.

“Be a jitterbug, man," Grant said. "Just not get hit. What I always pride myself on is you can’t hit what you can’t catch, so if they can’t catch me, they can’t hit me."

Two days later, Grant was essentially lost for the season due to what was basically a non-contact injury. It came on the 11th day of what had been a very good camp for him, and it'll have an impact in multiple phases of the game.

A free-agent signee from the Chicago Bears this past offseason, Grant was expected to give a major boost to the return game which hasn't produced a touchdown on a kickoff or punt return since Travis Benjamin in 2015. Grant has averaged 10.3 yards on 119 career punt returns and 24.5 yards on 110 kickoff returns.

Last season, the Browns tied for 26th in the league in punt return average (7.2) and tied for 2st in kickoff returns (20.7). Now, with Grant sidelined, players such as D'Ernest Johnson, Donovan Peoples-Jones or even Ja'Marcus Bradley figure to be potential replacements in the return game.

Beyond the return piece, Grant also brings an element to the pass game. For his seven-year career, he's caught 100 passes (on 161 targets) for 1,140 yards and seven touchdowns. Of those 100 catches, 67 have gone for first downs.

"I always preach that I’m a receiver first before a returner," Grant said. "I’m going to continue to preach that message. I’m going to continue to work on that until I get that opportunity to have that breakout season."

Grant was another veteran presence in a receiving room that lacked that with the departures of Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. over the last 12 months. Amari Cooper was the obvious No. 1 option in the room, but Grant had emerged in camp as a definite threat.

Instead, Grant's the latest receiver to come up with an injury. Rookie David Bell started camp on the physically unable to perform list with a foot injury and second-year pro Anthony Schwartz sustained a knee strain on the second day of camp, although both returned to practice late last week.

Rookie Michael Woods Jr., another one who was having a strong camp, has been out since last week with a hamstring injury. Javon Wims only recently returned to practice after starting camp on the non-football illness list.

No word yet on David Bell, Anthony Schwartz for Jacksonville

Both Bell and Schwartz have been steadily seeing their workload increase in practice since they return from their injuries. However, Stefanski didn't want to express any sort of firm decision one way or the other as far as their status for Friday's preseason opener in Jacksonville.

“We have not talked about it," Stefanski said Tuesday. "I have not made a decision yet. I do think it is important that we get our guys good reps both here in practice and in the games, if that is what they need, but those two guys in particular, I will wait to make a decision.”

Both receivers had arguably their best practice of their admittedly abbreviated camps on Tuesday. That was especially true in red-zone seven-on-seven drills.

Schwartz caught multiple touchdowns during the session. Bell also grabbed a touchdown on a nifty route in the same drill.

"It is just going to be a matter of adding more reps to what they are doing," Stefanski said prior to practice. "You have two really intelligent football players and guys who I do want to see more of obviously. You have to be mindful of they are coming off injury.”

More minor roster shuffling due to injury

The Browns made two roster moves which corresponded with each other. They signed linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk after waiving linebacker Silas Kelly with an injury designation.

Kunaszyk is a fourth-year pro who spent the previous two seasons with Washington. The University of California product was an undrafted free agent signee with the Carolina Panthers, with whom he played in 2019.

Kunaszyk has played in 26 career games and made four tackles. He will replace Kelly, a rookie from Coastal Carolina who suffered a hamstring injury in camp.

Kevin Stefanski looking to provide a different view

The Browns' early departure for Jacksonville for the preseason opener wouldn't necessarily make sense from a normal logistical reason. There's no time-zone change to adjust to, nor, really a major competitive edge to be gained.

However, Stefanski believes there's a team-bond piece to the puzzle. There's also, quite honestly, a desire to just have a different view than the same one the Browns have virtually year-around training in Berea.

“I was with the Vikings for a bunch of years when we went to Mankato all of the time, which was an hour and 15 [minutes] down the road," Stefanski said. "I think there was something to that collegial element of being together. I wanted to do this regardless of where we were going. It did not matter where we were going, I wanted to do a two-day trip and get some things done. Fortunately, I think we have a good plan.”

The Browns will depart for Jacksonville following an early-afternoon practice. The game kicks off Friday night at 7.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jakeem Grant Sr. suffers Achilles injury, placed on IR