Browns offer promising update after scary Elijah Moore injury

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Friday that wide receiver Elijah Moore spent the night in a local hospital after Moore suffered a frightening head injury in Thursday's 37-20 home win over the New York Jets that clinched a playoff berth for Cleveland.

"He is home now," Stefanski said about Moore, per the Browns website. "He’s in concussion protocol, so we’ll just work through that over the next few days with him, but glad that he’s back home." 

As shared by Jake Trotter of ESPN, Moore caught a touchdown pass in the second quarter of Thursday's victory but suffered his injury later in the period when his head bounced off the field. The 23-year-old then seemed to shake parts of his body uncontrollably while lying on the turf before he was able to eventually walk to the locker room.

"I don’t have a ton of other information other than to say that he’s doing better, he’s home," Stefanski added. "I’ve been texting with him. Those are always scary, as we all know. But I will say this about him. I’m very proud of him. He was getting going. I thought the route he ran for that touchdown was outstanding. He’s done a great job for us."

Moore reportedly requested a trade from the Jets during the 2022 season and was shipped to Cleveland this past March. He has recorded 59 receptions for 640 yards during his first season with the Browns, but Thursday's score was only his second touchdown catch of the campaign.

Moore tallied five catches for 61 yards and the touchdown versus the Jets. 

"He shows up every day," Stefanski said about Moore. "He does his job, he practices really hard. So just proud of him getting that opportunity...last night, getting those balls and doing something with them. And as you know, we’re blessed to have a bunch of different guys on offense that we can get the ball to and feel really good about. And Elijah is certainly one of them." 

Moore's status for the Week 18 game at the Cincinnati Bengals may not be revealed before next Friday at the earliest.