For the second time in three days, the Browns have had a player carted off the field with an injury.
But this one may not be as serious as the one suffered Thursday by guard Rex Hadnot. At least it didn’t look that way.
Third-year wide receiver/returner Syndric Steptoe was taken off with a shoulder or arm injury sustained while running a pass route Saturday during a rainy training camp practice.
The extent of the injury, as with all injuries under Eric Mangini, isn’t known since the Browns head coach doesn’t discuss the issue for competitive reasons. The Browns still haven’t announced, and probably won’t, the severity of the knee injury suffered by Hadnot, who looked to be in serious pain as he left the field.
Steptoe, a seventh-round pick of the Browns in the 2007 NFL Draft, spent his rookie season on the practice squad but rebounded to play all 16 games last year, with five starts. He caught 19 passes for 182 yards, and averaged 20.3 yards on three kickoff returns and 11.5 yards on two punt returns.
He is among those in a crowded wide receiver field vying for a roster spot. It appears he will have to excel as a returner to have a chance to make the team.
But that may now be a moot point. He could end up on the Injured Reserve List, ending his season.