Jared Verse has yet to record a sack, force a fumble or recover one for the Cleveland Browns this season. The 26-year-old defensive end thinks a mental hurdle may be part of the reason he has struggled.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Verse said he has been trying to manage his frustration and understand what is behind his lack of production. He doesn’t believe the answer is simply more weight training, better technique or extra film study.
“I train my body every day and push it as far as I can,” Verse said. “I don’t think this was a physical problem. I’ve been taking steps to work out what was going on.”
Those steps have included meeting with Browns team psychiatrist Mayur Pandya to talk about his mental health. Verse said he was unhappy with his play, but did not think anything was physically wrong.
He didn’t go into detail about what he and Pandya have discussed. Still, Verse said he feels he has made progress over the past couple of weeks and is looking forward to the coming game.
Verse also said he has spent time reflecting on himself and believes he has identified the issue. He suggested there are limits to what he considers reasonable when seeking help, joking that he wouldn’t start training with a monk.
In the NFL, where toughness is prized, some may see players seeking mental health support as a sign of weakness. Others may view it as a positive change. Verse appears to believe professional help can help him get his season back on track.
He acknowledged that Browns fans have reason to be frustrated, and said he shares that feeling. Verse said he knows he has not done enough, but has worked to understand the problem and feels ready for the week ahead.
