The return of football is just around the corner, and training camp is now in full swing for the NFL, as teams gear up for the 2025 season. Despite the excitement that comes with the return of training camp, there is always one negative to this time of year, that being devastating injuries.
Inevitably, there will be star players who go down in camp, completely altering the trajectory of the season. And sadly, a former Mississippi State Bulldog looks to have suffered a serious injury. Cleveland Browns cornerback Martin Emerson Jr., who played for the Bulldogs from 2019-2021, suffered an Achilles injury in practice on Tuesday. According to the NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, the expectation is a significant tear.
Sources to me and @RapSheet: #Browns CB Martin Emerson Jr. suffered what’s an Achilles injury in today’s practice. He’ll undergo imaging to determine the full extent of the injury but the expectation is it’s a significant tear. pic.twitter.com/q11qHerFnM
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 29, 2025
The Browns are awaiting MRI results to confirm the severity of the injury, but the outlook does not look good. He could not put any weight on his leg and had to be carted off the field. Barring an unexpectedly positive diagnosis, Martin Emerson Jr.'s 2025 season has likely come to an end before it ever officially started.
It's absolutely gutting news for the MSU great. Martin Emerson Jr. has been outstanding so far in his early NFL career since being drafted 68th overall to Cleveland in the 2022 Draft. He impressed as a rookie before a breakout 2023 season that saw him become a full-time starter and notch 59 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and four interceptions.
Emerson Jr. recorded a career-high 80 tackles in 2024, and while his numbers in pass defense weren't as strong, he was still set to enter his fourth NFL season as one of the top players on the Browns' defense that ranked in the top-half of the league in passing defense.
Making the news even worse is that, being his fourth season, this is a contract year for Emerson Jr. Now having suffered a major injury, it's going to be much more difficult for him to secure a long-term, high-level deal either in Cleveland or elsewhere.
This is simply a brutal break for the Bulldog alum. We just have to hope the injury isn't as serious as it's believed to be, and it's something he can rebound from to continue having a stellar professional career.