Browns lose punter Dave Zastudil, tight end Steve Heiden to season-ending injuries

Browns place Zastudil, Heiden on injured reserve

BEREA, Ohio — The losses are piling up for the Cleveland Browns. They’ve placed punter Dave Zastudil and tight end Steve Heiden on injured reserve with season-ending injuries.

Zastudil, who was second in the league with 25 punts inside the 20-yard-line, is done because of an injured right knee. Heiden injured his ankle in Monday night’s loss to Baltimore. He had off-season knee surgery and had missed two games with a knee injury.

Already this season, the Browns (1-8) have lost starting inside linebackers D’Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton.

The team claimed wide receiver Jake Allen and linebacker Arnold Harrison off waivers.

Zastudil was averaging 44.7 yards and was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dismal season so far for Cleveland. The eight-year veteran had been dealing with soreness in his right (plant) knee since training camp. He was inactive Monday night.

The Browns signed Reggie Hodges last week to replace Zastudil. He averaged 38.6 on nine kicks in the 16-0 loss to the Ravens.

Heiden had 10 catches for 73 yards this season. An 11-year veteran, he missed the final two games last season after injuring his knee. Heiden had reconstructive surgery during the off-season and was being counted on by the Browns, who traded tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay in February.

Allen was on Green Bay’s practice squad before being released on Tuesday. Harrison played in 28 games over four seasons for Pittsburgh.