BEREA, Ohio -- Cleveland Browns defensive end Takk McKinley suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during Monday night's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed. McKinley was carted off the field in the third quarter. He had 18 tackles and 2.5 sacks for the Browns this season.
"I told him to be optimistic, that we loved him and we were here for him. Just keep his head up," Browns defensive end Myles Garrett said after the 16-14 loss to the Raiders. "I know he was hurting physically and mentally."
Garrett himself was injured Monday, suffering a groin injury in the second half. After being evaluated in the medical tent, Garrett returned to the game. But Stefanski said Tuesday that results were pending on the severity of Garrett's injury.
The Browns have a quick turnaround this week, with a game at the Green Bay Packers on Saturday.
"Everybody has to play through some pain or injury," Garrett said. "Everybody is dealing with something, so I do not feel sorry for myself and do not want anyone feeling sorry for me. Get back and get ready for Christmas Day. We have another game."
In the wake of a COVID-19 outbreak last week, which prompted the NFL to push the Raiders game back two days, the Browns still have 22 players on the COVID-19 reserve list, including 10 starters.
Stefanski also remains away from the team after testing positive for the virus. He said that nobody, including himself, tested off of the COVID-19/reserve list Tuesday. That means the soonest the Browns could get any of those people back would be Wednesday.