CLEVELAND, Ohio — Kevin Stefanski opened his Monday video conference with well wishes for Bernie Kosar, who underwent a liver transplant on Monday morning at University Hospitals.
“I just want to let everybody know we’re thinking about Bernie as he’s going through his medical situation here,” Stefanski said. “I was able to text with him last night and he knows that we’re with him and he’s with us. So just sending all the good vibes, good thoughts I can to Bernie right now.”
Kosar, 61, had been awaiting the transplant for several days, but developed a lot of internal bleeding, and couldn’t have the transplant until doctors stopped the bleeding, Kosar’s friend and business associate Jim McCarthy told cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto. It took multiple difficult procedures to stem the bleeding.
“A few days ago, I didn’t know if we’d ever get to this point of him getting the transplant,” said McCarthy. “Saturday morning, the bleeding finally stopped. By Saturday afternoon, they began preparing him for the transplant.”
He noted that “the next 48 hours are critical. We have to make sure there is no rejection and no infections.”
He added that Kosar’s spirits were lifted by all the support from Browns fans.
“I know it kept him going through those really hard times,” he said. “Bernie watched the pregame tribute the Browns had for him Sunday. That meant so much. He really appreciates all the Haslams (Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam) have done for him. I know they were in touch last night. Bernie is very grateful to everyone.”
Stefanski closed his video conference on Monday the same way he opened it, with a nod to the former Browns quarterback.
“Bernie’s my guy,” he said. “I know that this town has such a special relationship with Bernie from his playing days and then the impact that he’s had on this community over the course of all these years. I didn’t have that experience with Bernie prior to coming here, but since I’ve been here, he has just been such a supportive person of me, so kind to my family. I think he sees my family every game day and just is so good to them. So he’s a special, special person. He’s a special Cleveland Brown, and we are all rooting for him and we are all right there with him right now.”
Dom Jones has a serious knee injury
Jones suffered a significant knee during Sunday’s 23-16 loss to the Ravens and will likely be headed to injured reserve.
According to JL Sports, the Browns have signed cornerback D’Angelo Ross (5-9, 190) off the Texans’ practice squad. He was originally signed by the Patriots as an undrafted rookie out of New Mexico.
Browns tackle uncertainty
Stefanski said left tackle Cam Robinson, who left the Ravens game early on with a knee injury, and right tackle Jack Conklin, who left in the fourth quarter with one, are day-to-day, and he’ll know more as the week goes on.
They were replaced by K.T. Leveston and Teven Jenkins.
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