Browns DT Taylor to have surgery on torn pectoral

Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor is scheduled for surgery next week to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, coach Pat Shurmur announced Friday.

Shurmur said the date of the surgery wasn't official, but is expected to be in the middle of next week. Barring setbacks, recovery time would be at least four months.

"Phil tore his left pec ... He is going to miss some significant amount of time, more months than weeks," Shurmur said. "It's too early to speculate how long that will be. I just wanted you to be aware of that. He was weightlifting yesterday in the offseason program and it was just one of those things that happens. It's unfortunate. We feel bad for Phil, but he is in good spirits and he is going to come back from this thing stronger than ever."

Taylor was a 2011 first-round pick. A stout defender who can tie up double-team blocks, Taylor had 59 tackles and four sacks as a rookie.

Without Taylor, the Browns don't lack options at defensive tackle. Ahtyba Rubin, who signed a three-year, $21 million contract extension in Sept. 2011, and rookie third-round pick John Hughes are the likely starters.

The Browns are hopeful Taylor won't miss the season with the injury, which is possible with a muscle tear, the team acknowledged.

"Could be, but I don't know that," Shurmur said Friday. "It's too early to say right now in terms of the recovery. Everyone recovers at a different rate. Our guess is that he will be a fast healer, but he will require surgery."