Browns middle linebacker Joe Schobert isn't sure how much time he'll miss after leaving Sunday's loss to the Chargers with a hamstring injury. In fact, he's really not sure of what to expect with what's his first-ever soft tissue injury.
"This, youth (football), college or anything," he said Wednesday. "I don't have the answers really for it."
Schobert, who previously played every snap for the Browns this season, is expected to miss at least a few weeks while on the mend. It leaves a major hole on a defense that's coming off its worst performance to date against the Los Angeles Chargers, a 38-14 defeat in which Cleveland surrendered 246 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
"Hamstrings are tricky," coach Hue Jackson said earlier this week. "Some last longer. Some end up shorter. We will see how all of that unfolds."
The good news? Schobert, admittedly not an expert on injuries of this nature, said he doesn't think it's a severe one.
"I think with hamstrings sometimes – like I said I've never had one before – but when people say that, there's a lot of pain walking around, and you feel it laying down, sitting down," he said. "With me it's not really that, it's when I try to run. That's when it kind of get hitched up. I think if we can just take it day by day and keep getting it better, I don't think it'll hopefully be too long."
To fill the void, the Browns moved veteran and captain Christian Kirksey to the MIKE position while Jackson said the WILL spot will feature a "combination of guys based on packages we put in the game," including rookie Genard Avery, who's already seen significant action.
Schobert, who said the doctors have told him hamstrings are "different for everybody," hopes he's on the mend sooner than later.
"I think it is up to each individual person and if you just attack the recovery in your own way you can really get after it," he said. "For me, hopefully I'll be on the short side of any injury."
— In addition to Schobert, center JC Tretter didn't practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury from Sunday's game. Jackson said "there's a good chance that JC can be back, but we will see as the week goes." If Tretter — who has started 22 of 22 games since signing with the Browns as a free agent in 2017 — can't go, rookie Austin Corbett is expected to start.
— The Browns signed former Ravens receiver Breshad Perriman this past weekend to add depth to a position group ravaged by injuries and inexperience. Perriman, the 26th overall pick in 2015, is looking to revive a career that hasn't played out the way he thought it would. Cleveland, meanwhile, hopes he can contribute immediately.
"I think there's a chance, yeah," Jackson said. "The guy is big, fast and caught the ball well today so that's good. It's a good start."
— Speaking of receivers, rookie Antonio Callaway has demonstrated flashes of potential that have been marred by drops and inconsistent play. The remedy? A "good conversation," with the youngster, Jackson said.
"That's all, because I think he's doing everything else pretty well. I just think he has to be consistent, and he is very talented. Again I think this is another young man who has not played a lot of football in a while," he continued. "He's going to be a fine player. It's just how fast is the consistency piece going to happen for him? We needed for it to happen yesterday, so he'll continue to work. He had a really good practice yesterday, he has to just continue to keep stringing good practices together rand go play well."
Callaway has 15 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown in six games.
— Rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield took ownership of Sunday's loss to the Chargers and called it the worst of his football career. The youngster completed less than half of his passes for 238 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times.
Jackson said he appreciates Mayfield's willingness to shoulder blame "but I want everybody to take that on. Everybody, every unit, every coach take that on so that we can correct the things that we need to correct."
