During the offseason training camp on Tuesday, Cleveland Browns wide receiver and kickoff returner Jakeem Grant suffered a lower leg injury. ESPN’s Jake Trotter said that the 29-year-old was suspected to sustain a torn Achilles. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport said that the injury probably would make Grant miss the entire season.
It was not the first time Grant suffered an Achilles injury. He had a similar injury back in 2018, but he did not have his tendon torn. An injured Grant has been added to the Brown’s injury list that includes three wide receivers, namely Amari Cooper, Anthony Schwartz, and David Bell.
Sources: #Browns All-Pro returner and receiver Jakeem Grant is feared to have torn his Achilles in practice today. He’ll have tests to confirm, but would be an incredibly unfortunate reality.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
According to John Sabol of Fox 8 News, Grant, who participated in the Browns’ offseason training camp, has not missed any scheduled training. He said that the recent injury was “more serious” than the 2018 ones. While doing one-on-one drills, he had to be carted off due to the injury.
On Tuesday evening, head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Grant suffered an Achilles injury.
Another WR down for the #Browns.
Jakeem Grant getting carted off with a left lower left leg injury. Injury occurred during 1-on-1 drills. WR room just can’t catch a break. Tough blow for Grant who was having a great camp.@fox8news pic.twitter.com/ZSnfc5Exmu— John Sabol (@John_Sabol) August 9, 2022
“We’ve witnessed how hard the young man has worked since he got to our team. We all realize injuries are 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,” he said.
Grant will miss the preseason opener this Friday against Jacksonville Jaguars.
Statement from #Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Jakeem Grant’s Achilles tear https://t.co/7AB2etwOUE pic.twitter.com/vtamWjsjLa
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
The Browns need a replacement for the kickoff returner position. Barry Shuck of SBNation predicted that the Browns would utilize rookie Demetric Felton, who was a kickoff returner when playing at UCLA. Other Browns rookies that have the experience to return a kickoff in college are wide receivers Mike Harley, Travel Harris, and Shaun Jolly.
There is another veteran that can be utilized as a kickoff returner, namely WR Ja’Marcus Bradley. Even though the player has only recorded two kickoff returns in NFL, Bradley had 24 kickoffs for 474 yards with a 19.8 average while playing for Louisiana in college.
Grant’s career statistic
Playing for six seasons in NFL with Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, Grant recorded 100 receptions with 1,140 receiving yards with seven touchdowns. Hee tallied 3,927 return yards with six return touchdowns, four on punts, and two on kicks as a kickoff returner for both the Dolphins and Bears.
In 2018, when playing for Dolphins, Grant recorded 1,000 yards as a wide receiver and kickoff returner, including a record-breaking 102-yard kick return that led to a touchdown. Grant posted a career average of 24.5 yards runback on kickoff and over 10 yards per punt return.
Last season, the two-time Second-Team All-Pro made his first Pro Bowl after being traded to the Bears.
Playing for Texas Tech in his college career, Grant was named to CBS Sports second-team All-American and Associated Press third-team All-American as an all-purpose player in his last college season in 2015.
Grant returned two kickoffs for touchdowns during the season to set a school record for kickoff returns. Grant caught 90 passes, recorded 1,268 yards received, and tallied ten touchdowns as a college footballer.
After his Bears contract expired in 2021, the Browns signed him to a three-year contract worth $14 million on March 16.