Chris

Gocong

The third-round rookie hasn’t been able to shake a stinger since the early portion of training camp. Gocong could compete with Dhani Jones to start at strong-side linebacker next season.

The NFL’s investigation concluded that Fujita pledged a “significant” amount of money in the bounty/performance pool. When Fujita missed time last year, Chris Gocong slid over to the strong side with Kaluka Maiava entering on the weak side. All four players suspended are expected to appeal. “Get ready for a massive multiple legal battle over this on several fronts,” a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Gocong had a season-high five tackles before leaving. Kaluka Maiava was forced into action once again.

Coach Pat Shurmur even suggested Fujita may land on injured reserve. Though he’s now 32 years old and has spent much of his career as a journeyman type, Fujita has been one of the few Cleveland defenders who are effective versus the run. With Fujita out, the Browns will turn to Chris Gocong at strong-side linebacker with Kaluka Maiava entering the starting lineup on the weak side.

Fujita broke his hand in two places late in last week’s loss to the Bengals. Signed through 2012 at $3.65 million, Fujita should return in the same role as one of Cleveland’s top defenders. He turns 33 in the offseason, so the Browns may look to draft his eventual successor.

Gocong missed the entire exhibition season due to a similar injury, leading to concern here. Kaluka Maiava figures to take over on the weak side.

We typically wait for more details before passing along camp injuries, but the consensus among Browns beat writers is that Gocong’s injury is serious. ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi speculates it’s an Achilles issue. We’ll know more soon, but it sounds like Cleveland’s weak-side linebacker is dealing with a possibly season-ending injury.

Gocong will undergo a Saturday afternoon MRI to confirm the injury, but it sounds like his season is over. As is typical with Achilles’ injuries, Gocong went down on a non-contact play. The injury means the Browns will be forced to turn to fourth-round pick James-Michael Johnson on the weak-side, though Kaluka Maiava could be in the mix once SLB Scott Fujita returns from his three-game suspension. Gocong has missed just one game the past five seasons.

He’ll undergo surgery next week. A 16-game starter each of the past two years in Cleveland, Gocong notched 70 tackles, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last season. With SLB Scott Fujita suspended for the first three games of the year, Kaluka Maiava and fourth-round pick James-Michael Johnson will serve as the Browns’ starting outside linebackers for at least three weeks. GM Tom Heckert will certainly be on the lookout for veteran help.

Gocong, 29, missed all of last season with a torn Achilles’. He was released by the Browns at the beginning of April, and he later participated in Eagles rookie minicamp on a tryout basis. The Rams are looking for depth at outside linebacker behind starters Alec Ogletree and Jo-Lonn Dunbar.