Sione Takitaki out for the season with a torn ACL for Cleveland Browns

On Dec 5, 2022

Cleveland Browns linebacker Sione Takitaki (44) wraps up Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon (28) during the first half of an NFL football game at FirstEnergy Stadium, Monday, Oct. 31, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio.

The Browns are dealing with yet another major injury in its linebacker room.

Sione Takitaki suffered a torn ACL during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 27-14 win at the Houston Texans. Coach Kevin Stefanski announced during a Zoom call with the media that the fourth-year middle linebacker will be out for the remainder of the season.

Takitaki sustained the injury with just under six minutes remaining in the game while on the field with the punt coverage team. The play resulted in a fumble recovery by the Browns’ Tony Fields II.

Cleveland Browns injuries at linebacker are stacking up

With season-ending injuries previously to Anthony Walker Jr. (torn quad tendon) and Jacob Phillips (torn pectoral), Takitaki had moved to the middle linebacker position over the last month. He entered Sunday’s game with 60 combined tackles and one sack.

Also on the injury front, Stefanski announced that receiver David Bell’s thumb injury is a “day-to-day” issue that they’ll monitor. Bell sustained the injury on the Browns’ third offensive play when he went down to try and catch a low pass from Deshaun Watson.

Receiver Anthony Schwartz left Sunday’s game to be evaluated for a concussion. Stefanski said Schwartz is in the concussion protocol.

Safety Ronnie Harrison Jr., according to Stefanski, was evaluated for a concussion during Sunday’s game. However, he cleared the evaluation.

NFL announces home game against Baltimore Ravens will be Saturday, December 17

The NFL announced the Browns’ Week 15 home game against AFC North rival Baltimore will be played on Saturday, Dec. 17 at 4:30 p.m. It will be televised on NFL Network, as well as Channel 5 in the Cleveland market.

The game’s exact date and time was unknown until Monday. It was one of five game the league held back as an option to play either Saturday or Sunday.

The game will be part of a NFL Network tripleheader, marking the third nationally-televised game for the Browns this season. The Indianapolis Colts open the tripleheader at the Minnesota Vikings at 1 p.m. and the Miami Dolphins playing at the Buffalo Bills at 8:15 p.m.