Training camp injuries are some of the worst moments in football. You hate to see a player's season end before it ever begins. The Baltimore Ravens have avoided major camp injuries so far, but the Cleveland Browns have not been so lucky.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. has suffered a season-ending Achilles tear, per Adam Schefter. Emerson was expected to play a major role in Cleveland's defense. Now, the Browns are left with a major hole at one of their outside cornerback spots.
Ravens rival loses key defender to injury
In years past, the Browns' cornerback group has been a defined strength. Emerson, Denzel Ward, and Greg Newsome make up one of the better trios in the league. Now, the unit looks shaky at best.
Emerson, a former third-round pick, was coming off the worst season of his young career. He struggled to stick with receivers in 2024, receiving a total coverage grade of 48.4 from PFF. But he was expected to bounce back in 2025 as a key member of the Browns' defense.
Without him, the Browns are left with a question mark at one of their outside cornerback spots. Newsome could move to the outside, but he does his best work from the slot. Behind him, Diabate Mohamoud and Tony Brown II will compete for a starting role. Neither of those players should instill much confidence in Browns fans.
In his two seasons with the Browns, Mohamoud has barely recorded over 600 defensive snaps. When he has seen the field, he's been inconsistent at best. So far, Mohamoud has shown nothing to suggest that he's ready to step into a starting role.
The outlook with Brown in the lineup isn't any better. The former undrafted free agent has been a special teams player for most of his career, but he's struggled in the defensive snaps he's played.
The Browns may turn to free agency to fill Emerson's spot. Veterans like Stephon Gilmore and James Bradberry are still on the market. If Cleveland chooses to enter the season with their current cornerback room, they'll have an obvious weakness for teams to pick on.
Truth be told, Lamar Jackson wasn't threatened by the Browns' secondary even with Emerson in the lineup. In two games against Cleveland in 2024, Jackson totaled over 500 passing yards and posted a passer rating above 90 in each matchup.
With an improved group of receivers in 2025, Jackson was already set to dominate the Browns. Now, it might get ugly.