Browns DL Mason Graham ruled out with knee injury vs. Steelers

The Browns lost a key piece of their defensive front early in Thursday night's game against the Steelers, with rookie defensive tackle Mason Graham ruled out after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter.

Graham went down after a center's down block drove him back and his knee folded under him as bodies landed, per reports from the game. He was initially listed as questionable to return before the team officially ruled him out for the remainder of the contest. Adam Schefter first reported that Graham hobbled to the locker room with the injury.

The loss is significant for Cleveland's defensive line rotation. Graham has been a disruptive force through the first three games of his second NFL season, recording four sacks — at least one in each game — along with 15 tackles and six tackles for loss. That production marks a major leap from his rookie 2025 campaign, when he managed just half a sack in 17 games.

Playing as a 3-technique defensive tackle, Graham has quickly emerged as an anchoring presence on Cleveland's front, generating consistent interior pressure. His absence leaves the Browns thinner up the middle against a Steelers offense that entered the night looking to establish the run, and it puts added strain on the rest of the defensive line to fill the void for the remainder of the game.