Jared Verse seeks his first sack with the Browns as pressure numbers dip

Cleveland Browns edge rusher Jared Verse said Thursday, Nov. 5, in Berea, Ohio, that he has not played the way he wants as he searches for his first sack with Cleveland, according to the Associated Press. Verse arrived in a June trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams, and the Browns are looking for his pass-rush production to translate into sacks.

The Associated Press reported that Verse was held to an assisted tackle in Cleveland’s 27-6 loss at Pittsburgh the previous Sunday. He had one quarterback pressure in each of the two games before Thursday’s report and none in two others. In his first two NFL seasons with the Rams, he had only three games with one or fewer pressures.

Verse’s recent pressure totals and past production

Verse said he believes a shortage of third-and-long situations has limited his chances to post statistics. But the Associated Press noted that nine of his 12 career sacks came on first or second down. Entering Week 9, Cleveland’s defense had pressured opposing quarterbacks on 36.9% of drop-backs, 13th in the league, and its 21 sacks were tied for ninth.

The Pittsburgh play and Verse’s conversation with teammates

The performance update follows a separate discussion about Verse’s teammates’ response to a play in the Pittsburgh game. ESPN reported that Steelers guard Mason McCormick was penalized for sweeping Verse’s legs and slamming him down on an extra-point attempt. Verse said Wednesday that the lack of reaction from teammates upset him. The exchange was covered earlier in [NewsJaws’ report on Verse’s frustration with his teammates](/news/jared-verse-browns-teammates-reaction).

The Associated Press reported that most Browns players on the field had their backs to Verse or were heading toward the sideline. Special teams coach Byron Storer and linebacker Carson Schwesinger said they did not see the play until after the game; Schwesinger said that if players saw such a hit, they would defend Verse.

Verse acknowledged he had not told teammates beforehand that he planned to speak publicly about Pittsburgh and said, “I’ve got to be better than that.” ESPN reported he had also said the group had discussed the incident. On Thursday, he said he wanted to get back on track against New Orleans; the reports do not establish the outcome of that game.