​The Cleveland Browns are at a threshold. They can continue their winning ways, or plunder and waste the season. The loss to the New York Jets shows that either they had a bad game or they just aren’t a very good team.The Jets were a definite “ schedule W” for the Browns, and they are not a good team. The loss could cripple the franchise’s season and could send it into an abyss instead of a continued upward spiral.RELATED: CAN JARED VERSE ACTIVATE BEAST MODE?Along this journey, the defense has done its job in almost every game. Right now, Cleveland’s defense is ranked #20 overall, giving up an average of 334 yards a game. They are ranked #13 versus the pass and #19 against the run.The Browns have the fourth-most sacks with 16.One defensive player has so far been omitted from this category: DE Jared Verse.Cleveland shipped off their best pass rusher when they traded Myles Garrett to the Los Angeles Rams. Along with a handful of draft picks, the Browns received Verse. It was stated that the Cleveland GM, Andrew Berry, would not make the trade without Verse included, so the Rams agreed.Verse came with lots of accolades and a sense of potential. He has been in the league only two years and was voted to the Pro Bowl each season. As a rookie, he won the “NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year” award after gathering 4.5 sacks, 18 QB hits, 33 pressures, and 66 total tackles, among other stats.Last year, he had 7.5 sacks and 36 pressures. For 2026? Something is off. Right now, Verse has yet to register a sack at all.He has started all five games, and yet has just 13 total tackles. 2.6 tackles a game on average seems a bit light, given that he has to defend an entire edge. Maybe teams aren’t running his way towards the left flats. Maybe? Pro Football Focus has given him a 67.3 run defense grade and ranked him #35 among qualified edge rushers. So, he is getting the job done when the ball is being carried in his direction. Or at least making the ball carrier turn it upfield before they attempt to sweep outside. He does have three tackles for loss.But it’s the pass rush, or lack thereof, that is concerning regarding Verse.He isn’t getting much penetration from his left defensive end position. And it’s not like teams are double-teaming him, although there are plenty of snaps where a tight end will either chip him or remain along the line to assist the right tackle.Verse’s stats so far this year: five starts, 13 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 0 fumble recoveries, 0 forced fumbles, 4 QB hits, 0 batted passes, 0 sacks, 2 knockdowns, 0 hurries, 2 pressures, and 3 missed tackles. Perhaps part of his lack of production this year is centered around the fact that he really is considered a part-time player. So far, Verse has played on 224 snaps, which is 66% of all defensive reps.His backup, Sam Williams, has played on 120 snaps, or 35% of all defensive plays. But Williams has more tackles (15), sacks (1), and batted passes (1), plus the same numbe