CLEVELAND (AP) – Ross Verba’s season is over, a damaging blow to the Cleveland Browns who have just one week to reshuffle their offensive line.

Verba, the Browns’ starting left tackle most of the past two seasons, tore his right biceps during Thursday night’s preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons.

He will need surgery and his rehabilitation will take five to six months, the team said.

The loss of Verba is especially tough since he plays a vital position as the player responsible for protecting quarterback Kelly Holcomb’s blindside.

In addition, the Browns don’t have much experienced or quality depth on an offensive line that was just beginning to gel and now has to be juggled in preparation of the Sept. 7 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.

To fill Verba’s spot, Davis will likely move left guard Barry Stokes over to tackle.

Stokes started all 16 games at left guard last season and had held off a challenge from several players for the job this summer.

Verba was injured during a touchdown drive in the first quarter.

of Cleveland’s 20-9 win.

After leaving the field, the 6-foot-4, 308-pounder clutched his right arm tightly to his chest and winced in pain as he walked slowly toward the tunnel to the Browns locker room, perhaps knowing his season was done.

X-rays were negative, but an MRI test taken Friday morning revealed the season-ending tear.

Verba, who signed as a free agent from Green Bay with the Browns in 2001, has started 31 of Cleveland’s last 32 games. He had finally solidified the left tackle position, a spot occupied by Lomas Brown and Roman Oben in the Browns’ first two seasons back in the league.

“He had a tremendous preseason and performed great at left tackle each of the last two seasons,” Davis said. “We will decide internally how to fill this void, and we fully expect someone to meet the challenge that awaits.”

Verba had injured his back while lifting weights before last season but reported to training camp on time and started all 16 regular-season games and in Cleveland’s playoff game against Pittsburgh.

In his first season in Cleveland, Verba started the first 12 games at left guard before moving to tackle for the final four. He started all 16 regular-season games at left guard for Green Bay in 2000.

Verba was the first rookie to start at left tackle in a Super Bowl when lined up there for the Packers in 1997.