The Browns have lost defensive end Marcus Benard for the season, but they're thankful he's recovering from a motorcycle crash that hurled him nearly 80 yards through the air on Monday.
Benard, 26, was placed on the reserve/non-football-injury list, the team announced Wednesday. Coach Pat Shurmur said defensive lineman Auston English will be activated to the 53-man roster. The Browns also signed defensive lineman Kiante Tripp to the practice squad.
Coach Pat Shurmur told reporters that Benard, who led the Browns in sacks last season, suffered a broken hand. The team refused to comment on any other injuries suffered by the player, The Plain Dealer reported.
Shurmur said he wasn't aware Benard was in the habit of driving a motorcycle, which the player smashed into a guardrail after Monday's practice. Making things worse for Benard, the cops slapped him with two traffic violations.
"I'm thankful (Benard's) OK," Shurmur said, adding that he's talked with the team about the importance of avoiding risky activities during the season. Fans in Cleveland, of course, lived through Kellen Winslow being tossed off a motorcycle in 2005, which knocked him out for the entire year. In this case, we're just glad Benard's alive, and wish him well.
