Thread Tools

Display Modes

**RoyWilliams** · 08-08-2007, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Starting left guard Eric Steinbach, the Browns' blockbuster signing of the off-season, fell on his right knee in practice Tuesday afternoon and could miss up to two weeks.

"We're having it evaluated," said coach Romeo Crennel. "We were inside on the turf and he came down on the knee. I would say he bruised it, but I haven't looked at it, and I'm not the doctor, so I don't know."

Steinbach walked off the field about midway through practice with trainer Marty Lauzon and didn't return. He wasn't limping, but his knee brace was loosened. He may have undergone an MRI and wore a sleeve on the knee later in the day.

Although the injury is not believed to be serious, Steinbach's departure from the field threw a scare into the Browns.

The No. 1-rated offensive free-agent, Steinbach was signed away from the Bengals to a seven-year deal worth $49.5 million, including $17 million guaranteed. Last season, the Browns signed center LeCharles Bentley to a $36 million free-agent deal and then lost him for the year on the first contact drill of camp.

Even a few weeks can be a setback for the revamped offensive line, which was already shaken up in the past week when it was announced right tackle Ryan Tucker would be suspended for the first four games of the season because of steroid use.

That bumped rookie Joe Thomas up to the starting job at left tackle and moved Kevin Shaffer from left to right. Backup guard/center Lennie Friedman worked in Steinbach's place Tuesday and most likely will start Saturday night against the Chiefs if Steinbach can't go.

"That's my job," said Friedman, who started two games for the Browns last season. "Any chance I get to play is great."