Marcus Benard Injury: Motorcycle Accident Causes Browns Defensive End to Break Hand

Cleveland Browns defensive end Marcus Benard broke his arm in a motorcycle accident riding back from the team's practice Monday around 2:20 p.m. ET, according to the television station Fox8 in Cleveland, Ohio.

Browns team spokesman Neal Gulkis told the station that Benard had broken his hand and was being examined at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, a few miles away from where the accident occurred on Interstate 71.

The Associated Press reported Monday that Benard will be further examined and tested at Cleveland Clinic. Benard was injured when his motorcycle crashed into a wall along Interstate 71 at West 65th Street. It is not yet known if any other parties were involved in the accident, and the investigation is ongoing.

Benard was a backup on the defensive line that had played in all four of the Browns' games thus far. He had three tackles on the season thus far, but it appears he may have to make a trip to the injured reserve list or at least miss a good chunk of the remainder of the season.

The Browns returned to practice Monday after a week of rest and review during their bye week.

Benard, 26, has struggled to adjust to the Browns' new 4-3 defensive scheme. Last season, he led the Browns with 7.5 sacks, but he was a linebacker in former head coach Eric Mangini's 3-4 system. As a defensive end, he only has the three tackles.

Josh Cribbs, the Browns wide receiver and return specialist, offered support for Benard through his Twitter account.

Praying 4my boy Marcus Benard!!!! Cribbs wrote.

Benard had another incident last season when he collapsed in the Browns' locker room last November and had to be taken to Southwest General Hospital.