BEREA — The NFL’s last-ranked defense will be without one of its best players for the rest of the season.

Browns inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He injured his shoulder Sunday in a loss to Pittsburgh, didn’t play the second half and underwent an MRI. He will likely need surgery.

Tuesday afternoon marked the league’s trade deadline, and it passed without the Browns making a move. Quarterback Brady Quinn, receiver/special teamer Joshua Cribbs and defensive end Corey Williams, all the subject of rumors, remain on the team.

Jackson, who was drafted by the Browns in the second round in 2006, leads the team with 57 tackles, adding two passes defensed and a forced fumble. He led the NFL with 154 tackles in 2008.

“It’s disappointing any time you lose a player for the season, and this is especially true with someone like D’Qwell, who has proven to be an outstanding leader for us both on and off the field,” coach Eric Mangini said in a statement.

The players were off Tuesday, and the Browns didn’t sign anyone to fill the roster spot.

Jackson was voted one of two defensive captains (linebacker Eric Barton) and started 48 of the 49 games he played in his three-plus years. He’s in the last year of his rookie contract and was hoping to get an extension during the season. That will likely be put on hold.

He appeared to hurt his shoulder on a Willie Parker run with 2:18 left in the second quarter. The Browns challenged that Parker fumbled, but the ruling was upheld. Jackson remained in the game and broke up a pass in the end zone intended for running back Mewelde Moore with 24 seconds left.

When the Browns took the field for the third quarter, Jackson remained in the locker room.

“He’s a great player for us,” cornerback Brandon McDonald said Tuesday night on WKNR 850-AM while filling in for Jackson on his weekly radio show, which was broadcast Tuesday from Buffalo Wild Wings in Elyria. “He’s a leader on our football team, guys really look up to him.

“Losing him for the season, it really hurts us. We need guys to step up and pick up where he left off.”

Rookies Kaluka Maiava and David Veikune are listed as the second-teamers at inside linebacker on the depth chart and could battle for playing time. Veteran David Bowens has played outside much of the year, but has experience inside and played a few snaps there when Barton was dinged against Buffalo.

Maiava, a fourth-rounder, replaced Jackson in the second half Sunday and was picked on by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He turned the wrong way in coverage on more than one occasion, leading to completions. In Maiava’s first extended playing time, he finished with six tackles and forced a fumble.

“I just wanted to get out there with the guys and show what I can do on defense,” he said Monday. “Just trying to get in there and fill the void.”

Maiava said the toughest part was adjusting to the moment.

“Just calming my nerves, I guess. Being a rookie and stuff, being out there with all the vets,” he said. “After the first hit, it goes away pretty quick.”

Maiava was chosen to play ahead of Veikune, a second-round pick out of Hawaii. Veikune played defensive end in college and has worked at outside and inside linebacker with the Browns. Learning multiple new positions may have slowed his development.

In another roster move, defensive lineman Keith Grennan was signed to the practice squad, and defensive lineman Carlton Powell was released from the practice squad.

Contact Scott Petrak at 329-7253 or spetrak@chroniclet.com.

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