Cleveland Browns rookie defensive back Grant Delpit out for season with torn Achilles
The Cleveland Browns were counting on Grant Delpit to become a force on the back end of their defense in 2020, but his rookie season ended before it began.
Delpit suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Monday, a league source confirmed to the Akron Beacon Journal on Monday night.
A second-round draft selection (No. 44 overall) from LSU, Delpit was carted off the practice field Monday afternoon with the non-contact injury. The Achilles tendon tear occurred during individual drills, and an NFL Network camera captured Delpit grabbing the back of his right leg as he writhed in pain on the ground.
The Browns had planned to give Delpit a significant role, using him with veteran free-agent pickups Karl Joseph and Andrew Sendejo. All three safeties had regularly practiced with the first-team defense through the first week of full-squad training camp sessions.
Delpit won the 2019 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive back and was named first-team All-America the past two years.
“He is learning things quick,” Sendejo said of Delpit on Saturday. “He is doing well for a rookie. Excited to have him here.”
With Delpit out, the importance of safety Sheldrick Redwine, a 2019 fourth-round pick from the University of Miami, should increase. The blow created by Delpit’s injury could also open the door for Elijah Benton, an undrafted rookie safety from Liberty University.
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With Delpit out and Joseph taking a scheduled day off because he’s coming off November foot surgery, Benton joined Sendejo for first-team repetitions Monday.
Losing Delpit could compel Browns general manager Andrew Berry to acquire a safety. Earl Thomas, Tony Jefferson and Eric Reid are among the top free agents at the position.
