Report: Browns linebacker Jacob Phillips suffers torn pec, likely needs season-ending surgery

The Cleveland Browns starting linebacker, Jacob Phillips, left Sunday’s loss 23-20 with an upper-body injury. And now we know what the injury is, the severity of it, and how long the former LSU Tiger will be out. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Phillips tore his pectoral muscle in the loss and will likely need season-ending surgery to repair the injury.

The loss of Phillips is a significant one as he is the quarterback of the defense, calling out the incoming plays. The third-year starter took over the duties after team captain Anthony Walker Jr. was lost for the season and Cleveland’s week three victory over rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cleveland now drops to 2-5 on the season and is currently third in the AFC North, courtesy of owning the tiebreaker over the Steelers. While a losing season is not what anybody in the Browns franchise would like to experience this year, it is made all the more problematic without the Browns owning their top pick in the 2022 draft. Cleveland traded away their first-round pick, along with several others, for the services of currently suspended quarterback Deshaun Watson. Watson is not expected to make his season debut until after Week 11. By then, given the current trajectory of their season, Cleveland might not be fighting for a playoff spot. Instead, they could be trying to ensure they do not send a top-ten pick to the Houston Texans.

More on Phillips in Cleveland

Pillars was selected by the Cleveland Browns, and the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of LSU. With the Tigers, as a true freshman in 2017, the Nashville, TN, native made an immediate impact, playing in 12 games. On the Tigers’ 2019 national championship-winning squad, Phillips led LSU in total tackles on the season with 113.

Since joining the Browns in 2020, Phillips has worked his way into more and more playing time, becoming a quality player. Unfortunately, after his rookie season, where he played in nine games, his sophomore season was limited due to a bicep injury. Phillips started the 2021 season on the Browns’ injured reserve list but found himself activated towards the end of the year playing in Cleveland’s last four games. This season Phillips was off to a strong start. After taking over for Walker Jr., he started the last four games for Cleveland. But now his season it’s likely coming to an end. After seven games, Phillip has recorded 46 total tackles, 29 solo, two sacks, and one pass defended.