Cleveland Browns: 5 biggest injury risks in 2021
By Sam Penix
![Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney runs drills during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. [Jeff Lange / Akron Beacon Journal]Browns 10](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2Fhttps-3A-2F-2Fdawgpounddaily-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fimagn-images-2F2018-2F08-2F16263261-850x560-61582a815239cbbf3b3f0bf58db3deed22fe809bb9d9ef0181dbd354491faf6b.jpg "Cleveland Browns defensive end Jadeveon Clowney runs drills during an NFL football practice at the team's training facility, Tuesday, June 15, 2021, in Berea, Ohio. [Jeff Lange / Akron Beacon Journal]Browns 10")
2. Greg Newsome II
Talent and need matched up perfectly in the first round when Newsome fell to the 26th overall pick. He was coming off an excellent 2020 campaign at Northwestern, and possesses all the physical tools needed to be an elite player; size, speed, fluidity, burst, and physicality. His last impression on scouts was a fantastic performance against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten Championship Game.
The biggest problem with Newsome is his injury history. Over his three years in college, Newsome missed at least three games per season, and 15 in total. That means he missed 43% of his college career. Ankle and groin issues have been the biggest hiccups for Newsome, and for a team with two injury-prone corners already in Denzel Ward and Greedy Williams, investing a first-round pick in Newsome is somewhat concerning.
However, if the Browns were willing to spend a first on Newsome, they were clearly comfortable with his health moving forward. Still, his has a history of getting banged-up, which makes it three on the roster. Maybe they can stagger their injuries in 2021 to where one is always healthy on a given week. That may be tongue-in-cheek, but the probability that Newsome gets hurt is unfortunately fairly high. Hopefully an NFL training regimen will help with that.