Chris Gocong Injury: Browns LB Reportedly Out For Season With Torn Achilles

The Cleveland Browns hit a stroke of bad luck when the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal came out and linebacker Scott Fujita was handed a three-game suspension. Now, his replacement for those first three games won't be able to ... do any replacing. Linebacker Chris Gocong was supposed to fill the void, but he suffered a non-contact injury during practice and there was immediate thought that it was serious.

Unfortunately, it is serious. Mary Kay Cabot of The Plain Dealer reports that Gocong will be out for the entire season with a torn right Achilles:

Browns linebacker Chris Gocong suffered a torn right Achilles in practice this morning and will undergo surgery as early as Monday, Browns coach Pat Shurmur said.

There's little chance of Gocong returning this season, and will probably be placed on injured reserve rather than ride the roster in hopes of returning in the coming months. Gocong was expected not only to replace Fujita at the strongside linebacker position for the first three games - he's also the starting weakside linebacker otherwise, so it really hurts the Browns at this point.

It's a major blow because the defense is meant to be the strong point of this team. Not many saw them finishing 10th in the league last season, but they did, and many expected them to be the highlight of these team again while the new-look offense finds its identity. Gocong isn't one of the best in the league at his position by any stretch, but losing a starter like this will just put more pressure on rookies Trent Richardson and Brandon Weeden to get things done on offense.

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Chris Gocong Injury Update: Browns LB To Undergo MRI

The Browns can't help but to be worried about the severity of Chris Gocong's leg injury during practice at training campon Saturday. According the Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, the injury sustained appeared to have been his right Achilles, but Gocong will undergo an MRI on Saturday to be sure.

That's what the team and Gocong are worried about, though.

"It would be a huge hit,'' said linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. "Chris is a great player.''

Gocong suffered a non-contact injury while defending a touchdown pass to tight end Jordan Cameron in the end zone. Gocong had been expected to fill in at strong side linebacker in the Browns' first three games for the suspended Scott Fujita. That appears to be in jeopardy at this point.

The Browns get a bad break here in what should otherwise be an exciting time with rookies like Brandon Weeden and Trent Richardson on board, and the team experiencing a change in ownership recently.

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Chris Gocong Injury: Browns LB Goes Down At Training Camp

Browns linebacker Chris Gocong went down with what appeared to be an ankle injury during morning practice at training camp on Saturday. There's an image from Daryl Ruiter's Twitter account of Gocong being carted off the field.

If this injury is serious, it would be a major blow to the Browns as Gocong is likely a starting linebacker for the squad. So far, the speculation is on Gocong's Achilles. Here are some more details on what happened at practice, via Mary Kay Cabot:

Replay showed Cameron didn't come down on gocong's leg. Was grabbing leg before he even went down, as if something snapped. Achilles?

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 4, 2012

Gocong suffered the injury as he was planting to defend td catch by Cameron. Grabbed lower part of rt leg near ankle. Put head in hands.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 4, 2012

For more on the Cleveland Browns, go to Dawgs By Nature. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.