There’s no doubt that, when the Browns plucked linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the first pick in the second round of last year’s NFL draft, they struck gold. Schwesinger has been one of the best rookies in football this season, especially among defensive players, and is among the favorites to win Defensive Rookie of the Year when the postseason awards get handed out. In fact, at FanDuel, Schwesinger is such an overwhelming favorite for the award, his odds are listed at minus-2,000.
Schwesinger leads the team, by a longshot, with 157 tackles, which rates fourth in the NFL. He also impressed teammates and coaches on Sunday in Week 17, when he hobbled his way through a deep thigh contusion to help the Browns pull off the upset of the Steelers.
But Schwesinger won’t play in the Week 18 finale against the Bengals, which leaves a sizable hole in the middle of the Browns defense. The team announced a move on Saturday, though, in hopes of getting some depth at the position.
Browns Adding Edefuan Ulofoshio
The Browns, as part of a series of roster moves, announced that they were moving up Edefuan Ulofoshio from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday, giving him his first chance at action with Cleveland this year.
From the team’s official announcement: “The Cleveland Browns have signed LB Edefuan Ulofoshio (pronounced ED-uh-foo-ahn YOU-loh-FOE-shee-oh) to the active roster from the practice squad and placed LB Carson Schwesinger (quad) on injured reserve. The team also elevated TE Sal Cannella from the practice squad.
“In addition, G Teven Jenkins cleared concussion protocol and no longer has an injury status for Sunday’s game.”
GettyEdefuan Ulofoshio newly promoted by the Browns
Carson Schwesinger ‘A Cement Block for our Defense’
Speaking about Schwesinger during the week, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz said that it was obvious the Browns star was in pain during the Steelers game, and that if it had been just about any other player, he probably would not have played through.
But Schwartz said Schwesinger has shown that kind of toughness all season.
“I was talking to him after every series, and he just said, ‘I can do my job,’ and he could,” Schwartz said. “You know, those last series, what we were trying to do in the last series, is Carson was right in the middle of our defense to take those end breakers away. You know, whether it was the slants and all that different stuff. He’s perfect right in those windows, he’s breaking on the ball, so he was able to still go out and do his job.”
Despite the fact that he is only 22 years old, Schwartz credited Schwesinger for the leadership skill he has shown this season.
“I think some of the plays that I think he’s played the best are plays that you guys might not notice, because he’ll take something away in the passing game or he’ll play, like, perfectly in the run game and somebody else will make the play,” Schwartz said. “And he’s been a good leader for us – he’s increased that as the season’s gone on, and I look forward to seeing him even take greater strides as a player. Really a cement block for our defense and I think defensive rookie of the year.”
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