Browns rookie Ward suffers back injury vs. Eagles

Cleveland Browns rookie cornerback Denzel Ward left Thursday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles with a back injury and will not return.

The No. 4 overall pick in April's draft suffered the injury when he bent awkwardly while tackling Zach Ertz. He was able to walk off the field to the medical tent before exiting to the locker room.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Ward exited as a precaution based on initial tests.

The second of the Browns' two 2018 first-rounders is set to start alongside Terrance Mitchell in an inexperienced secondary.

If Ward is forced to miss time, E.J. Gaines would likely step into the starting lineup.