Pierre Desir, Man of Mystery, Questionable to Start Season

The Cleveland Browns invested big in their defensive secondary this off-season. No surprise given the way head coach Mike Pettine likes to play defense. They gave a big contract to Joe Haden, drafted Justin Gilbert with their first pick of the draft and then doubled up with Pierre Desir in the 4th round.

Desir is a big corner out of little Lindenwood University. We covered Desir in more detail here in our Man of Mystery series as well as here in our Rookie Expectations series (both new windows). Now it looks like the Browns will start the regular season without him due to a knee injury:

#Browns HC Mike Pettine said CB Pierre Desir (knee) potentially could be sidelined for the start of regular season. Other CBs should be back
— Nate Ulrich (@ByNateUlrich) August 25, 2014

It doesn’t seem like it will be an IR type situation but it is a big concern for Desir who comes into the NFL from a small college and needing to learn the speed of the NFL. He has the physical gifts needed, and the requisite size that Pettine likes, but getting comfortable against NFL level receivers take on field time.

Desir did not looking comfortable in his pre-season work so far. He got beat and had a flag called on him the Lions game. The knee injury could of been bothering him at that point, we still haven’t gotten any information on when the injury occurred or what the nature of the injury is.

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Buster Skrine is expected back by Week 1, as well as Isaiah Trufant to give the Browns 4 corners. Desir gives the Browns a bigger guy to bring in on taller inside receivers and some tight ends. As noted in the Rookie Expectations and Man of Mystery series, this writer sees a future for him as a roving safety as well in the Pettine defense.

While losing him for a few weeks may not be a huge problem for the Browns on the field, it is for Desir. His history of breaking through hurdles to make something of himself gives us confidence he will come back strong from this setback. Until then he will need to watch film and the Browns will rely on the smaller Trufant and maybe safety Jordan Poyer for their 4th corner spot.

What are your hopes for Desir’s career?

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