Browns cornerback Kevin Johnson was admitted to University Hospitals Wednesday after sustaining a laceration to his liver when a player landed on him.
He was resting comfortably and is being kept another 24 hours for observation.
The injury occurred during the Browns' red zone period when Johnson laid out on a pass play while on rookie tight end Harrison Bryant. Bryant landed on him, coach Kevin Stefanski said, also calling what happened unlucky and unfortunate given that it happened on a routine play.
"Hoping for him that he will be back when he is ready," he said. "Really the most important thing right now is that he is safe, and we want him to get well very soon."
Stefanski credited the medical staff with ensuring Johnson's timely treatment.
Johnson had been performing well and was in the running to take on the role of the starting nickel back. Browns legend Josh Cribbs had already given the defensive back the nickname "Cover Johnson."
"We were excited about bringing Kevin in because he is a young man but he has some really good experience playing in a couple different systems," Stefanski said. "He was having a nice few days here, but like with every position, it is a long haul. I would tell you that we are going to miss him here ... (I'm) really excited about his future as a Cleveland Brown."
The Browns signed Johnson to a one-year contract during free agency. In the early stages of camp, he impressed with his play. He played for the Buffalo Bills last season and has started 19 of 51 games with 154 tackles, one interception and 19 passes defensed.
Recovery time will be dependent on the grade (severity) of the injury. The least severe version requires up to a week to heal. In the most extreme cases, up to 16 weeks, meaning Johnson could potentially miss the season. He's suffered injuries in the past, a fact he alluded to in a recent press conference. Johnson, a first-round draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2015, said injuries early in his career were a lot for him.
"My rookie year, I break my foot. My second year, I re-break the same foot. The next year, MCL. The next year, concussions," he said Monday. "I had to go on IR twice. It was hard for me because I have high expectations for myself. It was hard to adjust to what was going on."
He did, however see an upside to the adversity.
"Through it all, I feel like it made me mentally stronger. It showed me that I am still hungry, and I still believe in myself and what I want to be as a player. It definitely shaped me. I feel like I have a chip on my shoulder. That is very obvious there is a chip on my shoulder and that I just want to be the player that I think I should be. It motivates me every day to continue chasing the dream that I had when I was a little kid."
Unfortunately for him, he will have another battle for health to contend.
