Emmanuel Ogbah's promising second season is officially over.
The Browns defensive end, who was in the midst of one of his best games of the season Sunday before going down with a foot injury, will undergo season-ending surgery in the near future. Ogbah said he expects his recovery to last three to four months.
"I feel like I was doing a pretty good job out there. It was just unfortunate," Ogbah said. "Injuries happen, but I'm going to come back strong, so I'm not worried about it."
Ogbah finishes the year tied for the team lead with four sacks, two coming last week at Detroit. He had 29 tackles and two forced fumbles while playing a big part in the Browns' much-improved run defense.
"Put his hand in the ground and let him go," defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said last week. "I think he will be better and better and better. I don't think he has even come close to how good he could be yet."
Because of injuries, Ogbah and former No. 1 pick Myles Garrett played just four and a half games together. Throw in the multiple injuries suffered by linebacker Jamie Collins Sr., who is also out for the season, and three of the Browns best defensive playmakers were only able to play together for a little more than one game this season.
With Ogbah out, the Browns split playing time between Nate Orchard and Carl Nassib at Ogbah's spot. Garrett also saw his most snaps of the season.
"It is tough losing Emmanuel, tough losing any of our guys at this time, but that is football," Browns coach Hue Jackson said. "Next man up. We will find a way to continue to play strong over there on defense and continue to get better throughout the football team."
