The Cleveland Browns fell to the New England Patriots 32-13, and in the process, saw one of their stars go down with an injury.
While Myles Garrett had five sacks, setting a franchise single-game record, the Browns saw standout rookie linebacker Carson Schwesinger leave the game with an injury.
It was feared to be a high ankle sprain, and according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the injury is confirmed to be a high-ankle sprain. It’s a brutal blow for the rookie linebacker and the Browns’ defense.
Browns’ standout rookie linebacker diagnosed with high ankle sprain
“Testing confirmed a high-ankle sprain for Browns rookie LB Carson Schwesinger, per source,” Fowler reports. “Schwesinger leads Cleveland in tackles with 64.”
Testing confirmed a high-ankle sprain for Browns rookie LB Carson Schwesinger, per source.
Schwesinger leads Cleveland in tackles with 64.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) October 27, 2025
Not only is this a brutal blow to the rookie linebacker amid a strong debut season in the NFL, but it’s a brutal blow to the Browns’ defense as a whole. Rarely does a rookie come in and become such a focal point of a defense.
But in 2025, Schwesinger was one of the best defensive players for Cleveland, and now, he’s set to miss some time. A high ankle sprain could keep the rookie out for the next four to six weeks, meaning that Schwesinger could be out until at least Week 14.
If the Browns place the rookie linebacker on injured reserve, which is likely the case with a high ankle sprain, he could, at the earliest, come back for the Browns’ Week 14 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
More: Browns’ Myles Garrett surpasses Reggie White’s sack record against Patriots
While losing Schwesinger will be a massive loss for the Browns’ defense, he could wind up missing only three weeks of playing time, since the Browns are on bye in Week 9, and that week could help the rookie linebacker only miss four total weeks, but just three games.
The Browns’ decision to place Schwesinger on injured reserve will be a telling admission on when he could return. If he doesn’t go on injured reserve and misses the minimum, he could be back in Week 13. If he lands on IR, the earliest he could suit up again is Week 14.
Getting the rookie linebacker back would be huge, as he’s been one of the defensive leaders on a strong Browns defense. Cleveland’s rookie class from 2025 is shaping up to be a great one, and Schwesinger might be the best to come from such a strong class.
