BEREA, Ohio -- A stirring week for the Cleveland Browns has turned sobering.
Starting left guard Jason Pinkston remains hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs, a life-threatening condition he's grateful was detected early. After the Browns revealed Pinkston's condition after practice on Friday, he confirmed his illness on Twitter while being treated at the Cleveland Clinic.
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"The news is true I've been hospitalized with blood clots in my lungs very thankful our medical staff did a great job of taking action," Pinkston wrote on his account. "And catching it at a early stage it's obviously clear I won't be playing for sometime but more importantly I'm thankful to be alive."
It's believed the blood clot contributed to him becoming ill in last week's win over Cincinnati. Pinkston will not play Sunday against Indianapolis and the Browns do not know when the second-year guard will be released from the hospital or cleared to return.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur disclosed Pinkston's medical issue after the team's last workout, concluding a week in which Jimmy Haslam was approved by the NFL as Cleveland's new owner, former Eagles president Joe Banner was introduced as the team's CEO and Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice visited practice.
Shurmur did not provide many specifics about Pinkston, a second-year guard from Pittsburgh. Several of his teammates visited Pinkston in the hospital on Thursday night.
"We're definitely concerned and our thoughts are with him," Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas said. "Obviously, it's a little bit scary, but I guess we're definitely going to keep in touch with him and hopefully things will be all right."
Shurmur would not say where Pinkston's blood clot is located. He does not know how long the 25-year-old will be sidelined or if he will need to have surgery.
"We'll just have to see," Shurmur said. "What I'll tell you is, he's being treated for a blood clot. He's going to miss this week. As we go through next week, we'll determine if he's going to miss an extended period of time."
Pinkston started last week's win over Cincinnati but wasn't feeling well and was replaced by John Greco, who played the entire second half. Pinkston practiced as recently as Wednesday but missed Thursday's workout and was listed on the team's injury report as being out with an "illness." Shurmur did not know if Pinkston feeling ill last Sunday was related to the blood clot.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press