Hardy, who leads the Jaguars in tackles, was dragging down Browns fullback Marc Edwards on a pass play when he took a helmet-on-helmet hit from Brackens in front of the Cleveland bench.

Hardy didn't get up after the collision and laid motionless on the field for nearly 10 minutes before being immobilized by medical personnel and taken off the field on a stretcher.

X-rays were negative on Hardy, who wore a neck brace after the game.

"I was very scared," said Jacksonville coach Tom Coughlin. "Whenever a player leaves the field under those circumstances, it is very scary and does affect you as a team."

Couch, who has somehow stayed healthy despite being sacked 56 times this season, sprained his left ankle when he got sacked late in the first half by Brackens.

Brackens beat rookie offensive tackle Scott Zahursky on a wide rush and dived at Couch's legs. Couch tried to wriggle free and might have injured himself while trying to avoid the sack.

Couch's left leg was immediately placed in an air cast and he gave Cleveland fans a thumbs-up signal as he was carted off the field. X-rays were negative.

Couch has been one of the few bright spots this season for the expansion Browns, who selected him as the No. 1 overall pick in last April's NFL draft.

"I think he is fine," Browns coach Chris Palmer said. "I don't know if he will play or not next week. We'll have to wait and see."

Hardy leads the Jaguars' top-rated defense which is on pace to break the 1986 Chicago Bears record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season.

Hardy, 26, is in his fourth year out of Illinois. He set a team record with 186 tackles last year after moving to outside linebacker.