BEREA: Starting quarterback Robert Griffin III began his Browns career by going one and out.
Griffin suffered a fractured coracoid bone in his left shoulder Sunday late in the fourth quarter of a 29-10 loss to the host Philadelphia Eagles during the regular-season opener.
The Browns placed him on injured reserve Monday, meaning he’ll miss at least eight games and could very well be done for the entire season. Griffin will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks to determine whether surgery is needed.
“Robert worked really hard to put himself into position to be our starting quarterback, to be one of the team leaders, and it’s just very unfortunate,” coach Hue Jackson said.
Under new rules adopted this year, each team may designate one player on IR to return. Designation doesn’t need to be made until the player is able to return to practice. A player placed on IR is eligible to return to practice in six weeks and must miss at least eight games.
“I love this team and believe in the men on it. Keep pushing @Browns,” Griffin wrote on Twitter.
Jackson said Griffin has yet to be ruled out for the rest of the season.
“We’ll get an opportunity to see where he is four weeks from now and then kind of go from there,” Jackson said.
Meanwhile, quarterback Josh McCown will start Sunday when the Browns (0-1) face the Baltimore Ravens (1-0) in the home opener. Rookie third-round draft pick Cody Kessler will back up McCown.
“We have a very capable backup here,” Jackson said of McCown, the team’s starter last season. “[He’s] a guy who has played in the National Football League a lot of years and knows how to play and understands the lay of the land here and knows what needs to be done.”
Still, this certainly wasn’t the plan.
The Browns signed Griffin to a two-year, $15 million contract in March because Jackson believed he could revive the career of the 2012 NFL offensive rookie of the year who experienced a dramatic downfall in Washington. He received the starting job last month and was voted a captain by his teammates last week.
Now Griffin’s attempt to revive his career has been put on hold, and his quest for redemption may never resume with the Browns.
“Losing Robert, it’s tough,” wide receiver Terrelle Pryor said. “He’s our leader. We’ve been working with him all offseason, training camp and up to this point. So it’s tough news. I feel for him. I’ll be praying for him. He’ll be back in eight weeks.”
At this point, Pryor’s timetable for Griffin is just wishful thinking.
Jackson said the Browns won’t know whether Griffin, 26, will need surgery until he’s re-evaluated in three to four weeks.
“Anytime you lose a starter or a teammate for an extended time it’s a bummer,” right guard John Greco said. “We’re going to miss Robert out there just because he’s an awesome teammate, great competitor. But I know he’s going to do everything he can to get back as soon as he can. Until then, we’ve got to do everything we can to win these games.”
Griffin suffered the injury when he collided with Eagles rookie cornerback Jalen Mills as the quarterback ran out of bounds with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter. Mills hit Griffin in the chest and shoulder area, then Griffin landed on his left arm as he fell.
Many observers have criticized Griffin for not sliding, but the play was fluky.
Mills shed a block from tight end Gary Barnidge and had his feet out of bounds when he suddenly appeared in Griffin’s path on the sideline at the end of an 11-yard run on third-and-14 from the Browns’ 4-yard line with them trailing 22-10. Griffin also received a slight push in the back from cornerback Ron Brooks as he ran toward the sideline.
“I don’t think it was [dirty]. I don’t think [Mills] was trying to hurt Robert,” Jackson said. “I think the guy was out of bounds himself, and I think he reacted to this player running at him.
“I think [Griffin] was trying to protect himself. I think he was truly heading out of bounds. ... He was trying to do the right thing. There’s no question in my mind.”
After the game Sunday, Griffin said he suffered a sprained left shoulder. Additional testing Sunday night and Monday morning revealed the fracture.
“It’s just heartbreaking, because I know how much he wants to be out there with his guys fighting for his team,” McCown said.
The broken, nonthrowing shoulder is the latest setback in Griffin’s long injury history.
He suffered a torn anterior cruciate in his right knee at Baylor University in 2009, then a torn ACL and lateral collateral ligament in the same knee with Washington during the 2012 playoffs.
He had a dislocated ankle in 2014 and concussions in 2012 and 2015.
“He’s a strong-minded guy, so he’s going to have to deal with that, especially the emotional side, and come back strong just like he’s done before,” Pryor said. “He’s been great up to this point. It was tough for him. I was in there when he got the news last night, so I know it was tough for him. You could see it in his eyes when he got the news. I felt for him.”
The injury also muddies Griffin’s future with the Browns.
Last week, head of football operations Sashi Brown said Griffin could become the long-term quarterback for the Browns instead of merely a bridge to a younger player, provided he played well.
Although Griffin struggled with accuracy and finished 12-of-26 passing for 190 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 55 in his Browns debut, Jackson said the former second overall pick had improved since he joined the team, but he wouldn’t go as far as Brown did.
“Sashi made a statement, and I’m going to let that one stay there,” Jackson said. “Right now, I’m not even thinking about that. It’s unfortunate. Here’s this news: This young man is going to be out awhile. I think what’s important for our football team is that we move forward and worry about the game that’s coming up this week.”
Jackson also said he hasn’t thought about how Griffin’s injury could influence the franchise to choose a quarterback in next year’s draft, when the Browns will own two first-round picks.
“But I’m sure there will be a conversation here pretty soon,” he added.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at www.ohio.com/browns. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/NateUlrichABJ and on Facebook www.facebook.com/abj.sports.