Browns’ Pierre Strong Jr. Leaves Practice in Ambulance; Injury Status Unclear

Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVAugust 21, 2024

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Cleveland Browns running back Pierre Strong Jr. has been released from the hospital after exiting Wednesday’s practice in an ambulance, the team revealed, per Kelsey Russo of clevelandbrowns.com.

The Browns said Strong was transported to the hospital as a precaution after experiencing shortness of breath. Head coach Kevin Stefanski added that the running back is dealing with a rib contusion.

Zac Jackson and Amos Morale III of The Athletic first reported that Strong had to leave practice on Wednesday in an ambulance after suffering the injury.

Per that report, “Strong walked into the practice facility with a member of the Browns training staff before being placed in an ambulance adjacent to the field. The ambulance departed a few minutes later. No other details of the incident are known.”

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com added that Strong “walked into the fieldhouse appearing to hold his abdomen while a trainer supported his back” after he was hurt during an individual drill.

Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKayCabot#Browns RB Pierre Strong Jr was second Browns RB loaded into an ambulance this camp. 1st was D’Onta Foreman at The Greenbrier. Foreman was transported by helicopter to hospital but had feeling in extremities. Returned to practice 8/8. Ambulance has pulled away.

Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKayCabot#Browns coach Kevin Stefanski will provide an update on RB Pierre Strong Jr. after practice (transported by ambulance).

Strong, 25, is part of a deep running back room at the moment in Cleveland, which includes Nick Chubb, Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman and Nyheim Hines. He may be hard-pressed to see much time on offense if he makes the team, though he did rush 63 times for 291 yards and a touchdown last season, in part due to Chubb’s season-ending knee injury.

He also proved to be an important special teams player for the Browns, and likely will see time at kick returner if he avoids getting cut from the 53-man roster.

Granted, Strong may be facing a long injury layoff, though it sounds as though he avoided the worst.