Cleveland Browns starting cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. suffered a significant Achilles injury at training camp in Berea, Ohio on Tuesday and could miss the upcoming season.
The 24-year-old Mississippi State product was in coverage during 7-on-7 drills when he suddenly dropped to the ground in obvious pain, according to multiple reports. Onlookers could hear him scream before being carted off the field.
He will undergo an MRI to confirm the severity of the injury, which the team fears is a rupture that would end his 2025 campaign.
Emerson had just shared his hopes for the upcoming season with reporters after failing to build on his breakout 2023 performance in 2024.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Emerson said he was hampered by some injuries, which he neglected to specify.
‘As the year went along, my body was just kind of on a downward spiral,’ he said. ‘Just had to do some soul searching, man. Pray, stay close to God and just work my tail off.
Martin Emerson Jr. reacts after injuring himself in 7-on-7 drills at Browns training camp
Emerson had a breakout 2023 with four interceptions, but struggled to stay healthy in 2024
‘Honestly, that´s the only thing that could kind of get me out of that slump, was the work. Put in the work and just come back and be ready.’
He even added six pounds of muscle to help his body prepare for the season.
The timing of the injury is potentially devastating for Emerson, who is on his rookie contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026. He has $4.5 million in career earnings over three NFL seasons.
The Browns will likely promote nickelback Greg Newsome II opposite Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward with the first-team defense.
Cameron Mitchell and Chigozie Anusiem could also be in line for more action without Emerson.
The timing of the Achilles injury is potentially devastating for the 24-year-old Emerson, who is still on his rookie contract and will be an unrestricted free agent in 2026
Cleveland’s defense is already preparing to be without linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, who suffered a neck injury and has already been ruled out for 2025. Owusu-Koramoah is considered one of the better coverage linebackers in football.
The Browns’ defense has flown mostly under the radar this offseason as the team looks to find its quarterback. The team entered camp with veteran Joe Flacco, former Philadelphia Eagles backup Kenny Pickett, rookie third-round pick Dillon Gabriel and Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Colorado.
Flacco and Pickett have split first-team reps while Gabriel and Sanders have divided the backup duties in camp.
Meanwhile, rookie running back Quinshon Judkins remains away from camp following his arrest on a domestic violence charge earlier this month. The second-round pick was looking at potentially starting after the departure of Nick Chubb.