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The Cleveland Browns placed defensive end Emmanuel Stephens on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon. A neck injury will prevent Stephens from playing for the rest of the 2012 season. Stephens was injured in the first half of the Browns' 7-6 win over the San Diego Chargers Sunday, and did not return to the game. Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal had the news on Twitter.
Stephens, 25, had eight tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in 2012. He played snaps in all eight of Cleveland's games so far in a reserve defensive line role. Stephens totaled 17 tackles and a forced fumble and started three games last season, after he was signed by the Browns on Sept. 4, 2011. Stephens spent all of 2010 on the Atlanta practice squad, after he was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi.
The Browns have not yet announced who will replace Stephens on the active roster. The nature of his neck injury has not been disclosed.