For LB Jordan Hicks, the past six weeks of the season were frustrating as he worked through a number of injuries.
Hicks suffered ribs and elbow injuries against the Giants in Week 3, saying Wednesday that he checked himself into the hospital following the Giants game for two days with an infection in his olecranon bursa, a fluid-filled sac located at the tip of the elbow.
"There's a lot of things that nobody will ever know about this game and what players are going through," Hicks said. "Getting checked out of the hospital Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday evening and then being in practice on Wednesday. Like, it's just something that you do, and you deal with."
Hicks played the following week against the Raiders, leaving with an elbow injury after just five snaps. In Week 5, Hicks was also dealing with a triceps injury per the Week 5 injury report. He missed four of the following five games before the Browns' Week 10 bye week, playing in Week 7 against the Bengals.
"I wasn't healthy. At the end of the day, you want to be out there, you want to play this game at a high level, at the highest level possible. But when you're dealing with something that you use on every single play, it's tough," Hicks said.
While Hicks was sidelined with injury, he said that he made sure to be as engaged in meetings as he would be if he was healthy. As a leader on the Browns defense, Hicks helped guide young linebackers like Mohamoud Diabate, Winston Reidand Nathaniel Watson, in addition to six-year veteran Devin Bush, as they took the reins in the linebacker room with Hicks and LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's absence.
Owusu-Koramoah left in the Browns' Week 8 win over the Ravens with a neck injury. He was placed on the injured reserve list on Nov. 2.
Check out photos of the team working to prepare for their game this week against the New Orleans Saints at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Offensive tackle Roy Mbaeteka (61) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Cameron Mitchell (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Juan Thornhill (1) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive tackle Shelby Harris (93) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Khaleke Hudson (39) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
A football during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Offensive guard Wyatt Teller (77) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (2) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Wide receiver Kadarius Toney (87) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Safety Trey Dean (28) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 13, 2024.
Linebacker Nathaniel Watson (40) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Cornerback Greg Newsome II (0) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Wide receiver Jaelon Darden (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks (58) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
Linebacker Winston Reid (59) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 14, 2024.
"It's been a storm," Hicks said of his and Owusu-Koramoah's injuries. "You've got guys stepping up, Mohamoud's played well. Dev has jumped in, and he's got a lot of proven football in his career, so expected that from him. And then you've got the young rooks, right? Those guys are stepping up and playing roles when we need them. So, it's been a rally the troops mentality."
The injuries to both himself and Owusu-Koramoah reminded Hicks of the inherent risks that come with playing football.
"We play this game because we love it," Hicks said. "We sacrifice our bodies for it, and we understand the risks that are involved in it; but at the end of the day, you see something like that and it's real life. I look at my life and I've got three kids and a wife at home and it's like, what if I were to come home like that, you know? And he's got family that he loves and people that care about him, more than just what he can do on the field. So, it puts things in perspective, and you hope and you pray that he's going to make a miraculous recovery."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said that he will trust in the Browns medical team to make decisions regarding a potential return for Owusu-Koramoah this season. With Owusu-Koramoah out, Hicks will lead the linebacker room now that he is back on the practice field.
The 10-year veteran linebacker said Wednesday said that he is feeling good now and was listed as a full participant in Wednesday's injury report.
Hicks said he's been impressed with the development of Diabate, who took over play communicating responsibilities in the Browns games against the Ravens and Chargers. Diabate, an undrafted free agent in his second season in the NFL, registered 13 total tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defensed between the two games.
"Reps obviously help a lot in terms of your maturity in the game," Hicks said. "But off the field leadership, having the green dot, making the calls, that's a whole separate responsibility and leadership that comes with the position. You know, just running the show. He's taking it extremely seriously, doing the extra work after practice, doing the extra work in the film room on a weekly basis."
