Jared Verse arrived in Cleveland with high expectations after being elected to the Pro Bowl in his first two NFL seasons and winning AP Rookie of the Year in 2024 with the Los Angeles Rams. However, through the first seven games of this 2026 season, the defensive end has yet to record a sack with the new threads. While adjusting to a new defense and facing increased attention from opposing offensive lines, Verse has struggled to match the production that he saw in his first two NFL seasons.
Jared Verse Is Struggling to Find His Form in Cleveland
A Significant Drop in Production
The numbers will show how difficult the start has been. Through the first seven games with the Rams back in 2025, he recorded four sacks, 30 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. This season, he has 17 tackles, four tackles for loss, five quarterback hits and zero sacks.
The decline is significant for the former defensive rookie of the year, as he was supposed to be the player to help lead the defensive front. Although he has been able to generate some pressure, he has struggled to finish plays and has fallen well short of what Cleveland hoped they would receive after trading away Myles Garrett.
He has shown good value against the run, including a potential game-winning goal-line stand against Tennessee. However, the defense will need more consistency out of the edge rusher when it comes to pass rush.
Adjusting to a Bigger Role
Replacing Garrett is not an easy thing to do, as he established himself as one of the NFL’s best defensive players during his time in the orange and brown, consistently setting new records. Verse now faces the challenges of filling that void, as he was viewed as the replacement for Garrett.
Defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg has spoken on the adjustment of defensive schemes and how he is learning new techniques and responsibilities. Rutenberg has shown praise for his efforts in adjusting to a new look.
Opposing offenses have given Verse some extra attention through double teams, chips, and protection slides. He has expressed this frustration after the 27-24 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, calling out the Steelers’ blocking tactics and mentioning that it was “dirty”. He will need to overcome this extra attention and find ways to turn it into production.
The Last Word
Verse is going to need a statement performance when Cleveland travels to Pittsburgh for Sunday’s rematch, after calling out the Steelers, which got a big reaction out of Cameron Hayward on the Rich Esien Show, which mentioned that “those words will be addressed”.
This matchup is also very significant to Cleveland, as they can break a 23-year drought, as the last time the Browns won a regular-season game in Pittsburgh was in October of 2003. If Verse can generate consistent pressure on quarterback Aaron Rodgers and record his first sack of the season, he could help end the winless streak while quieting his critics and keeping the Browns at the top of the AFC North.
Main Image: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
