NASHVILLE, Tenn.: As Browns starting free safety Jordan Poyer ran down the field to cover a punt, Tennessee Titans running back Antonio Andrews blasted him with a devastating blow to the midsection, chest and face mask.
Poyer remained on the ground for several minutes after absorbing the hit with 6:33 left in the second quarter. He eventually walked to the sideline with medical personnel. They checked him for a concussion, carted him off the field from the sideline and took him to Saint Thomas Midtown Hospital before halftime.
Poyer was diagnosed with a lacerated kidney, coach Hue Jackson said. The Browns announced he was in stable condition but would be hospitalized overnight for observation. The team has not disclosed whether Poyer also suffered a concussion.
“Certainly it’s devastating emotionally when you see a teammate and a friend get hit like that ’cause it’s so scary,” left tackle Joe Thomas said. “You realize how real this game is and how dangerous it can be, and you can’t take anything for granted ever. It’s such a privilege to be out there and to be able to play a snap and be able to finish the game healthy.”
After the game, Poyer tweeted, “Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers.” Wide receiver Terrelle Pryor encouraged his Twitter followers to pray for Poyer.
Andrews was penalized for an illegal blindside block, and undrafted rookie cornerback Tracy Howard filled in for Poyer.
“It’s football. I don’t think the guy was trying to hurt him,” Jackson said. “I think he was trying to block him and sometimes you aim in spots and you hit some other things.”
In 2014, former Browns receiver Miles Austin suffered a lacerated kidney on Nov. 30 and didn’t play again until the following season.
“This is a violent game, and I’ve been in that situation where I’ve been taken to the hospital, so we’re praying for Jordan, hoping everything’s OK,” receiver Andrew Hawkins said. “Before every game, I make sure I tell my family I love them because you never know.”
Run game grounded
The Browns entered their game last week against the New England Patriots with the No. 1 rushing attack in the NFL (149.3 yards per game).
But they gained just 27 yards on 22 carries (1.2 average) in a 33-13 loss to the Patriots and followed that with only 40 yards on 15 carries (2.7 average) against the Titans.
“I don’t think it’s a problem,” running back Duke Johnson said. “We have faced two good teams back-to-back. At the end of the day, we are still not doing our part. We are not doing what we are coached to do.”
Johnson had four carries for 18 yards (4.5 average), including a 1-yard touchdown, his first career rushing TD. Running back Isaiah Crowell had nine carries for 16 yards (1.8 average).
“It’s up to us up front to be able to make the run game work because that’s really what we want to be as an offense,” Thomas said. “We want to be a team that can run the football and take shots downfield, and when we’re not effective running the football, it makes it really tough.”
Defensive woes
The Browns were effective in limiting Titans running back DeMarco Murray, who had just 65 yards on 21 carries (3.1 average) and a touchdown.
“We wanted to stop their run game,” inside linebacker Chris Kirksey said. “DeMarco Murray was their go-to guy. He was the second-leading rusher in the league. We wanted to make sure we eliminated him from the game, which I think we did.”
But the problem was they couldn’t keep Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota in check.
“He’s a special player,” nose tackle Danny Shelton said. “We’ve just got to be able to control both aspects of the game as far as passing and running.”
Mariota finished 17-of-24 passing for 284 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, posting a rating of 132.6. He rushed seven times for 64 yards (9.1 average), including a 41-yard gain. He completed eight passes of at least 15 yards, including two of more than 40.
“We just have to eliminate some of the big plays,” Kirksey said. “Some of the deep balls and that long run he had, eliminate some of those, and I think we will be fine.”
Other injury updates
• Center Cameron Erving was seen being helped by teammates and appearing unsteady after the game but looked OK later as he walked to the team bus. Erving faced the Titans after sitting out the previous three games with a bruised lung.
• Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Joe Haden was inactive with a groin injury he suffered in Thursday’s practice. It was the second game of the season he’s missed with a groin injury. “We worked him out [before the game],” Jackson said. “He wasn’t able to play.” Undrafted rookie Briean Boddy-Calhoun started in place of Haden. Tramon Williams served as the No. 3 corner after missing the previous two games with a sprained shoulder.
• Cornerback Marcus Burley left in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.
Extra points
• Pryor had career highs in receptions (nine) and TD catches (two), plus 75 yards receiving.
• Shelton and rookie outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah each tallied a first career sack. Ogbah played defensive end in the base defense with Xavier Cooper (shoulder) inactive.
• Williams recorded his 30th career interception.
• Kicker Cody Parkey made field goals of 37 and 45 yards.
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.