The Cleveland Browns closed their 2025 NFL preseason with a win against the Rams. Unfortunately, a key teammate of Joe Flacco left the game with an injury scare that has raised alarms within the AFC North team.
Ethan Pocic, the team’s starting center, exited the matchup due to a knee injury. He was evaluated on the field before being taken to the locker room. The Browns later confirmed he would not return.
Pocic is considered one of the main leaders of Cleveland’s offense. If he’s not ready for Week 1, it would be a major setback for Joe Flacco and the team’s chances of success this season.
If Ethan Pocic isn’t ready, who takes over at center?
Ethan Pocic is one of the most experienced players on the Browns’ roster. The 30-year-old joined Cleveland in 2022 after five years with the Seahawks.
The Browns will run further tests on the veteran to determine his availability for Week 1 against the Bengals. Still, with less than two weeks before the season opener, his knee injury is a serious concern.
According to the team’s depth chart, Luke Wypler is next in line at center. The 24-year-old entered the league in 2023 as a sixth-round pick, but he has just one career start and five total appearances.
Flacco is already familiar with Pocic, as the center was part of the lineup when the quarterback led the offense in 2023. Losing such a key player at a critical position could be a major blow to the veteran signal-caller.