Armonty Bryant Injury: Updates on Browns DE's Recovery from Torn ACL

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 14

The Browns confirmed Armonty Bryant's status for the remainder of the 2014 season via the team's official Twitter account: 

Original Text

Cleveland Browns defensive end Armonty Bryant tore his ACL in Sunday's Week 6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.   

Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported on Bryant's status Monday:

Bryant was a seventh-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft, yet had made enough of an impression on Cleveland's new regime to crack the starting lineup in just his second season. He was filling in for an injured Phil Taylor, a former first-round draft selection.

ESPN.com's Pat McManamon noted how Bryant's absence would hurt an already thinning defensive line rotation:

Browns head coach Mike Pettine praised everyone involved for stepping up to secure a massive, 31-10 victory over Pittsburgh, which puts Cleveland in the thick of the AFC North race, per Cabot:

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I thought today was a perfect example of 'next man up' before the game even with (Ahtyba) Rubin being down and having the d-linemen step up, and then in-game – you have (John) Greco slide over to center and do a solid job. There are no excuses on Sunday when there are injuries, so I can't be more proud of the group and the coaches on how they handled it. I can't understate how important this win was for us.

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As is implied in Pettine's praise, right guard John Greco had to slide over to center to fill in for an injured Alex Mack, who will be out for the year, too, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport:

Much of the success the Browns have enjoyed on offense, including a top-three rushing attack, can be attributed to the big men up front. Both sides of the trenches are having their depth tested in light of the season-ending injuries to Bryant and Mack.

How Cleveland continues to adjust moving forward will go a long way in its bid for the playoffs. At least Bryant has some nice experience to draw on and had played winning football for a franchise that has lost double-digit games in six prior seasons.  

The good news for the Browns is that, despite the rash of injuries, their next three opponents have a combined record of 1-16. It stands to reason that Cleveland can overcome its key absences to improve on a surprising 3-2 record.