Browns will be without Kareem Hunt for ‘weeks’ with calf injury

The Cleveland Browns will not have Kareem Hunt for ‘weeks’ following a calf injury sustained in Sunday’s loss.

A tough weekend for the Cleveland Browns has carried over into Monday morning. ESPN’s Jake Trotter has reported via Twitter that the team will be without running back Kareem Hunt for “weeks”.

According to head coach Kevin Stefanski, the former Pro Bowl running back will hit the injury list for “weeks”. Hunt got the start Sunday in a loss to the Cardinals, filling in for Cleveland’s other star running back Nick Chubb who missed the game with a calf injury of his own.

The already banged-up Hunt was dealing with knee and wrist issues that limited him all week in practice. He was carted off the field after amassing 66 yards on 14 carriers and hauling in three passes for 12 yards.

Browns likely to be without Kareem Hunt for about a month

Stefanski said, according to Trotter in a follow-up tweet, that Hunt will miss at least three games which will have him headed for a stint, albeit a hopefully short one, on the injured reserve. This is a tough blow to a reeling Cleveland team that was without wide receiver Jarvis Landry on Sunday along with Chubb. Star quarterback Baker Mayfield was also knocked out of the game briefly with a shoulder injury that he has been dealing with since September.

Hunt and Chubb have been the focal points of a Browns offense that averages the most rushing yards per game. Being without both is going to be a big test for the offensive staff and the struggling, banged-up Mayfield.

The Browns have a quick turnaround after Sundays’ loss to the undefeated Cardinals, with the  Denver Broncos coming to town on a three-game losing streak.  The short-handed Browns will need to bounce back against Denver to keep up with the red-hot Baltimore Ravens and surprising Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.