Cleveland Browns pass-rusher Jared Verse said Thursday that he met with the team's psychiatrist to overcome a "mental block" that he believes held him back this year.
"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, but I think I've taken the steps to figure out what it was after meeting with a couple people and everything like that," Verse told reporters.
Verse has suited up in all nine games this season since being acquired in a blockbuster trade that sent Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. He leads all Browns edge rushers in snaps, but he hasn't recorded a sack and has posted just 20 tackles, 15 pressures, and six quarterback hits.
"I haven't played well at all this season," Verse said. "I think I've taken a little bit of time looking at me, at what I could do better, because I think (the defensive line) goes as I go. That's my mindset in anything I do."
Among 51 players in the league with at least 200 pass-rush snaps, Verse is just one of three who have failed to record a sack, according to TruMedia. His 6.9% pressure rate among that group ranks 48th.
Despite Verse's struggles, Cleveland's defense is tied for fourth in sacks (26) and sixth in total pressures (130). However, the Browns have lost back-to-back games after a 5-2 start and now sit outside the AFC playoff picture.
Cleveland faces the Houston Texans on Sunday with kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET.
