A disappointing season in Cleveland has taken another bad turn.
Travis Benjamin, the second-year player who has emerged as a big-play threat both on offense and on special teams, is out for the season after suffering a torn ACL in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs.
Benjamin suffered the injury when he planted his foot to cut on a return in the third quarter, coach Rob Chudzinski confirmed today.
“Travis obviously is a big part of what we do, and has been in terms of return game,” Chudzinski said. “He’s explosive and has the speed and ability to make a big play.”
Losing Benjamin hurt the Browns badly on Sunday: Trailing the undefeated Chiefs by just three points in the fourth quarter, Benjamin’s replacement Davone Bess muffed a punt to give the ball right back to the Chiefs, squandering the Browns’ best chance for a comeback.
So far this season Benjamin had 22 punt returns for 257 yards, three kickoff returns for 146 yards, five catches for 105 yards and one run for 45 yards.