Cleveland Browns cornerback E.J. Gaines suffered a right knee sprain, the team announced Monday. A source told ESPN's Adam Schefter that the fifth-year veteran is expected to be out three weeks.
Gaines, 26, was carted off the field Sunday during while defending a pass in practice.
"Obviously we hope to get him back sooner. It sounds like we are going to get him back sooner rather than later, so that's a good thing. If he's a fast healer, hopefully he will come back sooner but we will work through that," Browns coach Hue Jackson said Monday.
Gaines signed with the Browns in March as a free agent after playing last season with the Buffalo Bills.
Gaines was rated the NFL's 13th-best cornerback by Pro Football Focus last season and had 59 tackles with one interception and three forced fumbles in 11 starts.
The Rams selected Gaines in the sixth round of the 2014 draft. He has played in 37 career games (36 starts) and has 3 interceptions, 31 passes defended, 4 forced fumbles and 185 tackles. He missed the entire 2015 season because of a foot injury.
