Cleveland Browns defensive end Jared Verse has sought mental health support while trying to move past a challenging start to his first season with the team. The Pro Bowl pass rusher said he recently met with the Browns’ team psychiatrist after going without a sack through his first nine games of the 2026 season.
“I think it was definitely a mental block,” Verse said Thursday. “I’m upset with the way I’ve been playing.”
Verse, 26, joined Cleveland during the summer in a blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Rams. The deal sent Myles Garrett to Los Angeles and brought Verse to the Browns with substantial expectations.
Before the trade, Verse had built an impressive résumé. He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 and earned two Pro Bowl selections during his time with the Rams. His early-season production in Cleveland, however, has been a sharp contrast to his previous success.
## Verse discusses meeting with Browns psychiatrist
Verse told reporters that he met with Dr. Mayur Pandya, director of the Sports Psychiatry Clinic at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health and the Browns’ team psychiatrist. He said he wanted to explore possible reasons for his lack of production, particularly because he did not believe a physical problem was behind his struggles.
“I train my body every day to push myself to the limits of what I’m physically capable of doing. So I don’t think it was any issue with my body,” Verse explained.
He also said that meeting with several people was part of his effort to understand what might have been holding him back. His comments came as he searches for a way to regain the form that made him one of the league’s most promising young pass rushers.
Seeking professional support is one step Verse has taken as he works through a difficult stretch. His remarks focused on the frustration he has felt about his play and his belief that the issue was mental rather than physical.
## Statistics show the scale of Verse’s slump
The numbers underline the difference between Verse’s early NFL production and his start in Cleveland. Across his first two seasons, he recorded 99 quarterback pressures. Only Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett had more over that span.
This season, Verse’s pressure rate is 3.4%, ranking 180th among 199 qualifying players. His edge pass-rush win rate stands at 11.2%, placing him 55th among 56 qualifying players, according to ESPN Analytics and NFL Next Gen Stats.
He is also one of only three players this season to have logged at least 200 pass-rush snaps without recording a sack. The drought has contributed to his disappointment, but Verse has said he is still trying to identify the factors behind his performance rather than attributing it to a physical limitation.
## Browns coach remains supportive
Browns head coach Todd Monken has not rushed to draw conclusions about Verse’s adjustment or his early results. Speaking last week, Monken said, “I think it’s too early to say anything.”
Monken also praised Verse’s daily work ethic and suggested that adapting to Cleveland’s defensive system could take time. The comments offered support for a player who arrived with a strong record but has yet to produce the sack numbers expected of him.
Verse has shown before that he can make a significant impact as a pass rusher. The challenge now is to translate that previous success into results with his new team. As the 2026 season continues, he will be looking to build on his work with the Browns and find a way through the mental block he described.
For Cleveland, Verse’s progress will be closely tied to whether he can turn his pass-rush opportunities into more consistent pressure and, ultimately, sacks. His recent meeting with the team psychiatrist forms part of his effort to understand what has changed and recover the level of play that earned him recognition during his first seasons in the NFL.
