Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson won’t be going anywhere.
The Browns have already decided that they’ll place the franchise tag on Jackson if they’re unable to sign him to a long-term contract, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
That’s a sign of just how important Jackson was to the Browns’ defense last season, and that’s an extraordinary accomplishment: In 2009, Jackson suffered a torn left pectoral muscle, causing him to miss the final 10 games of the season, and in training camp in 2010, Jackson suffered a torn right pectoral muscle, causing him to miss the entire season. At that point, people didn’t know if Jackson would be able to make it back in 2012 at all, let alone make it back and be one of the best linebackers in the league.
Jackson came in second to Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford in comeback player of the year voting.
