Jared Verse has zero sacks, zero forced fumbles and zero fumble recoveries for the Cleveland Browns this season, and the defensive end believes a mental block could be contributing to his struggles.
Verse, 26, told reporters on Thursday he is working on himself to overcome the frustration he’s feeling over his lack of production. And that work isn’t about lifting more weights, improving his technique or studying his opponents more closely.
“I think it was definitely a mental block,” Verse said. “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.”
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The steps Verse has taken, he said, include meeting with Browns team psychiatrist Mayur Pandya to address his mental health.
“Obviously, like, I’m upset with the way I’ve been playing,” Verse said. “I don’t think it’s anything physical. There’s nothing wrong with my body. It’s not like that. I think it was a mental aspect of the game.”
Verse declined to explain exactly how he’s addressing the problem with Pandya but believes he’s close to turning a corner as a result.
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“I think I’ve attacked it very well these last couple weeks, but I think this past week is a big key thing that I’ve done is I’m very excited for this next week,” Verse said.
“I took a lot of time for self-growth. I met with Dr. Pandya a little bit, and I figured out what my issue was.”
Times have truly changed in American society.
The Greatest Generation went to war, defeated the Nazis of Germany and the imperialists of Japan and stamped the United States as the strongest country on the planet, all at a great cost to their mental and physical health, but seemingly never complained about it.
But athletes today struggle with contracts, or statistics, or their home lives, and do not hesitate to have their mental health checked.
That could be seen as progress.
But it could also be seen in some sectors — particularly in the high-octane NFL — as weakness.
Verse seemed to touch on that by suggesting there are limits to what is acceptable as individuals address their mental health.
“You can’t go out there and start doing some crazy things like going to, like, I’m training with a monk or something that,” he said.
But, clearly, professional mental help is something Verse believes is about to help him change the narrative of his 2026 season.
“I think the Browns fans are upset about it, I’m upset about it, I think we all have a reason to be upset,” he said. “I just haven’t done enough, and I think I’ll take any time to figure out what the issue was. I’ve attacked it. I think I’m ready for this week.”
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