Quentin Groves injury: Browns LB out for season after ankle surgery

An ankle injury suffered in Week 2 has finally ended the season of Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Quentin Groves, as the team placed him on the season-ending injured reserve. Groves is expected to have surgery to repair his ankle this week or next week, according to Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

Groves, 29, suffered an ankle injury in a Week 2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens that left him in a walking boot and, although he returned later in the season, his ankle never returned to 100 percent and he was unable to contribute for more than a few snaps at a time. According to Pro Football Focus, Groves finishes the season with participation in just 53 snaps for the team.

A second-round selection of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2008 NFL Draft, Groves accumulated just 2.5 sacks in two seasons as a defensive end with the team before he was released. He then joined the Oakland Raiders, where he switched to linebacker and started 12 games for the team in 2010.

Groves then joined the Arizona Cardinals in 2012 and became a situational pass rusher in defensive coordinator Ray Horton's scheme, accumulating four sacks for the team. He followed Horton to Cleveland, where he signed a two-year, $2.28 million contract and tallied two sacks despite his limited playing time.

In Groves' absence, the Browns will continue to rely on Paul Kruger, Jabaal Sheard and rookie Barkevious Mingo to provide a pass rush from the outside linebacker position.