Cleveland’s win over Pittsburgh gave the Browns another reason to believe this defense can carry them into a different kind of season. But for Jared Verse, the attention has remained on something that has not shown up in the box score. The former Los Angeles Rams edge rusher arrived in Cleveland as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Myles Garrett to Los Angeles, putting him under a microscope from the moment he put on a Browns jersey. Former Browns offensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas has now offered a very different way of looking at Verse’s start.

Thomas pushed back on the criticism of Verse in a video posted on social media, pointing out that the defensive end’s work cannot be judged by sacks alone. He specifically questioned what all of Verse’s pressure was doing to opposing quarterbacks and then used film from the Carolina game to make his case.

“Jared Verse has been a bust since the Browns traded Myles Garrett for him. He’s got zero sacks through three games, but he’s got nine pressures. So who is that pocket collapsing for, anyway? Grab a beef stick, let’s roll the tape,” Thomas posted on X.

The Browns nevertheless came away with a 27-24 win, their third straight victory, as their defense sacked Aaron Rodgers five times and picked him off twice. Isaiah McGuire, Adin Huntington, Sam Williams, Maliek Collins, and Mike Hall Jr. each recorded a sack, while Denzel Ward and Grant Delpit came away with the interceptions.

Verse’s numbers through the opening stretch of the season explain why the criticism started. He had not recorded a sack, but his pressure production had been noticeable. Against Carolina alone, he generated six pressures, with three of those plays helping collapse the pocket around Bryce Young and creating opportunities for Mason Graham and Isaiah McGuire to finish the rushes.

Verse has not hidden from the missing sacks either. Before the Pittsburgh game, he explained that he measures his performance partly by what his presence allows the rest of the defense to accomplish.

“I think the measure of a great player is how you can elevate those around you. Even if I’m not getting the stats that I want, every player wants, as long as my teammate and as long as we get the W, that’s all that matters. That’s what I get paid for.”

There is also a reason the pressure numbers matter so much in Verse’s case. Since entering the NFL in 2024, he has generated 152 pressures, fifth among edge rushers over that span, according to the AP’s analysis. The problem has been converting those pressures into sacks, which has left the statistic that fans notice most conspicuously absent.

The Browns’ decision to move Verse around more against Carolina also helped change the way he could attack opposing protection. Instead of staying exclusively on the edge, he took snaps inside, giving Cleveland another way to use his speed and power against offensive linemen who were not accustomed to seeing him rush from those spots.

And after the Steelers game, Verse sounded far more interested in what Cleveland is becoming than in his individual numbers. The Browns are now 3-1 and have won three straight, with the defense playing a major role in the turnaround.

“This ain’t the old Browns. We’ve got new swag. We’re a lot more aggressive, a lot more, you know, getting after it. This is something different here. We’re going to make this whole city rock.”

For Thomas, the larger point is straightforward. Verse was brought in because Cleveland needed a new centerpiece after Garrett’s departure, so the sack total will inevitably remain part of the conversation. After all, Garrett holds the Browns’ all-time career sacks record and broke the NFL single-season sack record with 23 sacks during the 2025 season. But in Verse’s case, the film from Carolina showed why a defender can affect a game without being the one who gets the final credit.