Cleveland Browns DT Phil Taylor May Have Torn Pec; John Hughes Must Step Up Big

Everyone scratched their heads when the Cleveland Browns selected defensive tackle John Hughes in the third round of the draft, passing on seemingly more important needs like wide receiver.

But now, that third-round pick just might pay off for the Browns immediately, though not in the way they had hoped.

John Telich of FOX 8 in Cleveland reports that sources have told him starting Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor is undergoing an MRI after he may have torn his pectoral muscle, an injury that would likely cost him the entirety of his 2012 season.

Losing Taylor would be a major blow to a Browns' defensive front seven that was made far stronger last season thanks to him. This year, they worked even harder to improve their defensive line and though Hughes was part of that effort, clearly Cleveland was hoping they'd have a year to develop him into a starter.

In Taylor's first season with the Browns, he had 59 total tackles—the most of any rookie defensive tackle—with four sacks and a forced fumble. He, alongside fellow rookie Jabaal Sheard, represented an uptick to their pass rush—one they sorely needed.

The Browns have already indicated they wanted to get Hughes involved in the rotation as a rookie, citing that Taylor and fellow starting tackle Ahtyba Rubin played too many snaps. But now, Rubin may have to wait to be spelled by anyone, because Hughes will likely be plugged in right away as Taylor's replacement.

Hughes is an unknown, surely, but he's no downgrade—at least on paper. In his 2011 season at Cincinnati, he racked up 51 total tackles and five sacks, numbers comparable to Taylor's rookie season with the Browns.

Granted, Taylor was a first-round pick while Hughes was seen by many to be a reach in the third round. However, the Browns saw something in him that warranted taking him so early, and now he'll have a chance to display just what that is as a rookie starter.

Taylor's injury is clearly a setback for a Browns defense that looked to be on the verge of where they needed to be, in terms of both the pass rush and stopping the run. Hughes was already under pressure from the fanbase to prove he was worth a pick that, to their estimation, should have been spent on a receiver.

He'll certainly get to prove himself now that Taylor's playing status is very much up in the air. But if the Browns thought enough of Hughes to confirm he'd get time in the starting rotation, then they should feel confident that he can be a more-than-adequate replacement for the talented Taylor. 

Indeed, the Browns could be in a far worse situation; if they hadn't drafted Hughes, this would be a crisis rather than a significant—but surmountable—setback.

Update: ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Taylor will have an MRI on Friday and will need surgery if the pectoral is indeed torn. Schefter estimates recovery time will take four to six months.

Follow @FBALL_Andrea