Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. was carted off the practice field Tuesday with what appears to be a significant Achilles injury that could sideline him for the season.
Emerson went down during a 7-on-7 drill and was visibly emotional as teammates consoled him before he was taken off the field.
The Browns did not provide an immediate update following practice, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the injury is believed to be serious.
“Martin Emerson Jr. suffered what’s an Achilles injury in today’s practice,” Garafolo posted on X. “He’ll undergo imaging to determine the full extent of the injury but the expectation is it’s a significant tear.”
https://x.com/MaryKayCabot/status/1950268115734188244
If confirmed, an Achilles tear would likely end Emerson’s season. The 24-year-old is entering the final year of his rookie contract after being selected in the third round of the 2022 draft. He emerged as a starter opposite Denzel Ward and played a key role in Cleveland’s secondary.
Browns CB Martin Emerson Did ‘Soul Searching’ in Offseason
Emerson had a stellar year in 2023, notching four interceptions and establishing himself as a key piece of the Browns’ defense. He took a step back last season, earning an overall PFF grade of 47.9, ranking 194th among 222 cornerbacks.
“Just did a lot of soul searching, honestly, this offseason,” Emerson said before practice on Tuesday. “The toughest year I ever had team-wise and also personal performance. So I just got into the lab, man, and worked my tail off so I could put myself in the best situation for my team, but also my family.
“I would say I always faced adversity my whole career, but it was like, it was a lot of adversity, man. Every week it was something new, you know, my body, it just wasn’t holding up as much as the previous years. And I think that probably would go back to the training I did that offseason, you know, and that’s what I’ll probably say.”
Unfortunately, Emerson will likely spend a significant amount of time on the sideline as he recovers from the Achilles tear. It’s an untimely setback that not only ends his season but will send him into free agency at a low point, just as he was hoping to rebound and prove his value.
Martin Emerson Injury Benefits Browns CB Greg Newsome
With Emerson out, the Browns will likely shift former first-round pick Greg Newsome to the outside, opposite Ward. Newsome has worked primarily as the team’s nickel corner but has expressed that he wants a chance to prove himself on the outside.
“When I talked to Greg Newsome at the Super Bowl on Radio Row back in January or early February, he talked about the fact that he wants to be used more. He was primarily the nickel back last year. He wants to be on the field more often,” Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com said recently. “[He] actually point blank said, you know, I need to know some things before I want to sign a long-term contract here.”
Like Emerson, Newsome is heading into a contract year. As a former first-round pick, he’s playing on his fifth-year option. If Newsome steps up, he could cash in with a new deal andstick around Cleveland long-term.
