Browns Lose Key Safety For Rest Of Regular Season

The Browns will be without Grant Delpit for the remainder of the year after he suffered a groin injury in Week 14

A brutal week of injury news for the Browns got a whole lot worse Wednesday before their first practice of Week 15.

The Browns have lost safety Grant Delpit for the rest of the regular season due to a groin injury, according to the team. Delpit was placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing he'll miss the final four games of the regular season, after he suffered the injury Sunday in the Browns’ win over the Jaguars, which was one day before he had signed a three-year, $36 million contract extension with Cleveland.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski stopped short Wednesday of ruling Delpit out for the full season, however, and said he could potentially return for the playoffs in January. He also confirmed that Delpit underwent surgery.

In addition to Delpit, the Browns also learned this week that top tackles Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) and Dawand Jones (knee) and defensive tackle Maurice Hurst Jr. (pectoral) will be out for the season. Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (pectoral) could be lost for the year, too, according to a report from ESPN’s Jake Trotter.

Dec 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram (17) catches a pass as Cleveland Browns safety Grant Delpit (22) defends during the first half at Cleveland Browns Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

All players played vital roles for the Browns when they were healthy this season, and that was especially true of Delpit, who was leading the defense with 80 tackles and had secured one pass breakup and an interception in his fourth NFL season. He had been thriving under the schemes of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who had been effectively using Delpit as a versatile weapon across multiple levels of the defense.

The injury is the second time Delpit has been placed on injured reserve in his career. The first was his rookie year, when he suffered a torn Achilles in training camp and missed the entire year. He had played in all but two games in the three seasons after his return.

The Browns called up Duron Harmon, an 11th-year veteran, from their practice squad in a corresponding move. They now have Juan Thornhill, Ronnie Hickman, D’Anthony Bell and Harmon as safeties on the active roster.

Delpit joins a crowded list of key Browns players on injured reserve with season-ending injuries. The list also includes RB Nick Chubb, OT Jack Conklin, QB Deshaun Watson, WR/PR/KR Jakeem Grant, S Rodney McLeod, LB Jacob Phillips, Hurst, Jones and Wills.