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Associated Press 9y

Browns Pro Bowl tackle Joe Thomas injures leg in practice

NFL, Cleveland Browns

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns are awaiting further test results on Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas, who injured his right leg in practice Monday.

Thomas, who has never missed a play in his NFL career since 2007, yelled when his leg was rolled into during an 11-on-11 scrimmage. He hobbled off and was checked by a trainer, who tested Thomas' knee stability and looked at his ankle. As Thomas lay on the ground, quarterback Josh McCown and center Alex Mack came over to check on his condition.

"He'll be all right, I think," Mack said after the workout. "I'm anxious to find out, too."

Thomas walked to the team's facility under his own power. Browns coach Mike Pettine said the eight-time Pro Bowler will have more tests.

The 6-foot-6, 312-pound Thomas is the first offensive lineman in NFL history to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons. He has played 7,917 consecutive snaps since the first start of his rookie season in 2007.

Browns linebacker Paul Kruger said Thomas' injury sent a scare through the entire team.

"For sure," he said. "Anytime guys go down, but there's cornerstone guys that you really need out there, and Joe has been an effective player for a long time and you want to take of those guys and make sure they're healthy. I'm hoping everything is OK."

The Browns open the exhibition season on Thursday against Washington, and if Thomas can't play rookie lineman Cam Erving could see time with Cleveland's starting offense.

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