Second-year Browns cornerback Justin Gilbert had quite a day Monday when the Browns and Bills held a joint practice in Rochester.
Tuesday, he had a much shorter day. Gilbert left early in the teams’ final joint practice session after going down and needing an assist from team trainers to get up and head to the sideline.
Trainers placed ice and a protective wrap on Gilbert’s right quad, and he watched the rest of practice from the sideline. After practice Browns coach Mike Pettine told reporters Gilbert suffered a hip flexor.
The Browns were hoping Gilbert, the No. 8 pick in the 2014 draft, would bounce back from a lost rookie season, but he’s struggled in camp and in last week’s preseason opener. The Browns spent $7 million for this season to bring in veteran cornerback Tramon Williams in case Gilbert didn’t catch on quickly, and though it’s early, that looks like a sound decision.
If his injury lingers, the Browns will likely be really short on cornerbacks Thursday when the Browns and Bills play a preseason game in Cleveland. Joe Haden and Pierre Desir, a 2014 fourth-rounder, sat out both practices with the Bills, and second-year nickelback K’Waun Williams also sat out Tuesday.