With one preseason game to go, the Cleveland Browns' depth chart is taking a beating and might stay down for some time.
Sources told The Plain Dealer on Friday that injuries to Browns guard Eric Steinbach (back) and running back Brandon Jackson (turf toe) could sideline both players for the season.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Jackson would be out an "extended period," but he couldn't even put a timeline on if or when Steinbach would return.
"At this point, (Steinbach) is going through some treatments that we're hoping will get him back, and there's no real final call yet on whether he'll be back -- or when actually," Shurmur said.
The source told the newspaper that Steinbach and the Browns are trying to determine if the guard needs surgery that would put him on season-ending injured reserve.
The list of walking wounded coming out of Thursday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles didn't stop there. Linebacker Titus Brown joined the list of Browns unable to work out Friday because of a high ankle sprain.
Shurmur said Brown won't be back immediately, either.
"He (Brown) has a high ankle sprain and may be out for some time," Shurmur said.
Shurmur said that despite losing punter Reggie Hodges for the season and having several others recouping from various bumps and bruises, the Browns' injury issues aren't that alarming.
"Coaches (throughout the NFL) are dealing with the same type of issues," Shurmur said.
Shurmur is willing to be patient, as he was with Montario Hardesty. The running back carried five times against the Eagles in his first action since tearing a ligament in last year's preseason finale and having surgery.
In the meantime, Shurmur likes what he has seen from others filling in around the field, notably offensive lineman Jason Pinkston.
"He has made huge, huge strides," Shurmur said of the 305-pound rookie from the University of Pittsburgh. "When you're in there in the thick of it, it's very challenging for those big guys. It really takes development and seasoning, and I think he's making huge progress."
"In certain instances we were better, and there were certain spots where we saw errors that were killers," Shurmur said. "We were out here today getting rid of it. Guys that made errors really absorbed it, and we did a very good job of going through the corrections."
"We have the ability to run the football," Shurmur said. "I'm trying to use the preseason as a way to develop the team. You really need to develop the pass game as much as the run game."
Featured back Payton Hillis carried just three times. Quarterbacks Colt McCoy, Seneca Wallace and Jarett Brown went a combined 16-of-28 passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Philadelphia had the ball more than nine minutes longer in the game as Cleveland failed to gain a first down on four of its first seven possessions and also threw an interception.
Brown and wide receiver Jordan Norwood were hurt during the first quarter. Norwood tweaked his knee when accidently tripped by teammate Sheldon Brown. Norwood fumbled while trying to fair catch a punt.
Shurmur said defensive lineman Marcus Benard woke up Friday with a sore shoulder and was being evaluated.
Notes: WRs Josh Cribbs (hamstring), Mohamed Massaquoi (left foot), Carlton Mitchell (finger) and Norwood; Benard; LB Chris Gocong (neck); and DBs Usama Young (hamstring), T.J. Ward (hamstrings) and Dimitri Patterson spent time on exercise bikes. ... The first roster cut, down to 80, is due Tuesday. The final cut to 53 is due Sept. 3, two days after Cleveland's final preseason game in Chicago and eight days before the Browns open the regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
