Jared Verse Met With Browns' Team Psychiatrist to Break Sackless Slump: 'Definitely a Mental Block'
Nine games into his first season in Cleveland after the Myles Garrett trade, Verse still has no sacks and says the problem is in his head, not his body
Jared Verse says the thing holding him back in Cleveland is mental. The Browns defensive end told reporters Thursday that he recently met with the team's psychiatrist to try to snap a slump that has left him without a sack through nine games, ESPN's Daniel Oyefusi reported.
Verse arrived as the centerpiece of Cleveland's return in the blockbuster that sent Myles Garrett to the Rams, which made him the measuring stick for the deal. He was the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler in Los Angeles, and only Micah Parsons and Garrett had more pressures than his 99 over his first two seasons.
This year has been a different story. Per Next Gen Stats, Verse is one of three players with at least 200 pass-rush snaps and no sacks, and his 3.4% pressure rate ranks 180th of 199 qualifiers. He didn't dodge it: "I haven't played well at all this season," he said, adding that the defensive line "goes how I go."
Todd Monken said last week he isn't worried, pointing to Verse's work ethic and a scheme that asks different things of him than the Rams' attacking front did. Monken also called the Garrett comparison unfair. Garrett, meanwhile, was activated from injured reserve last week after knee surgery.
The Browns need their pass rush to show up. Cleveland is 5-4 but has dropped two straight, a 27-6 loss in Pittsburgh and a 23-22 overtime loss in New Orleans, and hosts the Texans on Sunday with Deshaun Watson back under center.