BEREA, Ohio (AP) — Wide receiver Miles Austin's first season with the Browns ended in a hospital bed.
Cleveland placed Austin on injured reserve Wednesday after he sustained a kidney injury in Sunday's loss at Buffalo. Austin, who had seven catches for 86 yards, remains in the Eric County Medical Center, where he was taken by ambulance from Ralph Wilson Stadium after complaining of stomach discomfort.
While the team didn't provide specifics on the injury, Browns coach Mike Pettine said it's not serious and that he's being kept for precautionary reasons.
"I don't think you could term this at this point as something that's serious or critical," Pettine said. "But I think it's them being very precautionary with him going to travel."
Pettine said Austin's wife, Stacy, was at the game and has been with him since he was injured.
The 30-year-old Austin signed as a free agent with Cleveland in May after eight seasons with Dallas. He finished the year with 47 catches for 568 yards and Pettine said Austin made valuable contributions off the field as well.
"It's unfortunate because he was a guy that really embodies what we're trying to build here," Pettine said. "When you talk about 'Play like a Brown' and the way guys handle themselves on and off the field and how they interact with teammates and with the staff and just their level of play and how they approach the game and everything A to Z, we couldn't have asked a guy to come in and be a better example for our young players."
Pettine said he spoke to Austin on the phone and that several Browns players have reached out to him.
Austin started 11 games this season, and his loss is another blow to Cleveland's struggling offense. He was effective on third downs, making 17 catches as a go-to target for quarterback Brian Hoyer.
With starting running back Isaiah Crowell slowed by a hip injury, the Browns signed running back Shaun Draughn. The 5-foot-11, 205-pounder in his fifth NFL season out of North Carolina.
Draughn signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He has appeared in 26 career games, rushing for 254 yards and two touchdowns. He played in six games this season, two with Chicago and four with San Diego.