BEREA, Ohio -- Pat Shurmur acknowledged that defensive tackle Phil Taylor could be lost for the 2012 season to a torn left pectoral muscle, but the Browns aren't ready to write him off.

"He's going to miss a significant amount of time, more months than weeks," the Browns head coach said. "It's too early to speculate on how long that will be. Everybody recovers at a different rate. Our guess is he'll be a fast healer."

Taylor, the team's first-round pick last season, was injured while bench-pressing during an off-season workout on Thursday. He'll undergo surgery next week and the Browns will know more then about his prognosis. If it's a complete tear, he could be out six to nine months.

At a Friday luncheon at the University of Akron, team president Mike Holmgren held out hope. "I think there's a chance he can come back and play [this season]," he said.

Holmgren said he spoke with members of the strength and conditioning staff to find out what happened. He was assured Taylor "was doing everything fine, that he was not lifting too much weight for Phil. He already had done a couple of reps. I think we're doing everything right and I think Phil is doing everything right. He has been working out so well. It was one of those things that happened that nobody can predict."

Holmgren said the Browns might have to wait until final cuts to see which linemen get released, "but in a perfect world you'd like to have [a replacement] in camp with you."

In the meantime, the Browns drafted two tackles and signed two ends in free agency, one of whom could move inside if necessary. Former Bengal Frostee Rucker played inside in nickel situations and could fill in at tackle.

Browns Rookie Minicamp 2012: Day 1 24 Gallery: Browns Rookie Minicamp 2012: Day 1

The Browns also drafted tackle John Hughes in the third round and Billy Winn in the sixth. The Browns have been criticized for taking Hughes so early, but Hughes hasn't let it affect him.

"No, I don't think about that at all really," Hughes said. "I'm going to come out here and play. People can think what they want. I know I can play and I can't wait to prove it."

He said Taylor's injury hasn't changed his approach.

"I had the same mentality that I had two days earlier: to play the best ball I can and try to be a good addition to the team."

He said he stepped up his work ethic his senior year. He also began to play the pass as well as the run. He finished 2011 with 51 tackles, including 12.5 for a loss.

"I think my biggest step was the mental part of the game," he said. "I got a lot smarter. I could diagnose plays a lot better. I didn't want to let my team down, I wanted to go as far as I could in my last year with the team and make history in Cincinnati."

Winn signed his four-year contract Friday.

"I'm going to come out and compete every day," he said. "None of us is on the team yet. We're all looking to compete against each other and make each other better."

Winn said he's most comfortable at the three-technique, which is where Taylor played. "I'd also say I play with a lot of speed at that position."

He said he and Hughes feel like they're in this together.

"We've already started to create that little bond," he said. "We're roommates so we've been doing a little chatting and going over the playbook. We'll help each other out and compete against each other and make each other better."

No Sweat: Ohio State linebacker Andrew Sweat was signed as an undrafted free agent, but didn't show for rookie camp. "I think he's made a decision he's not going to play," said Shurmur.

No Plax: Shurmur said team officials haven't discussed signing free agent receiver Plaxico Burress, who told Sirius XM radio the Browns are one of about four teams he'd like to play for.

On Benjamin: Shurmur took exception to a question about receiver Travis Benjamin dropping two balls in Friday's workout. He caught at least a half-dozen others.

"Let's not go there yet," Shurmur said. "I think they're all getting used to it. I think he catches the ball fine and he's fast-fast. In my opinion, for the most part the guys caught the ball pretty well. I think he's got good hands and he'll show it."

Schwartz signs: Second-round pick Mitchell Schwartz signed his four-year deal Friday, a source said. It includes a $2.206 million signing bonus and has a maximum value of $5.17 million. As of last night, the Browns had only three to go: Trent Richardson, Brandon Weeden and sixth-rounder Emmanuel Acho.

Regional appearances: Holmgren served as a keynote speaker in Akron at the first of two "Football Friday" luncheons this month. It is part of the club's regional market initiative which continues next Friday as Shurmur speaks at the Maronite Center in Youngstown.

Holmgren was joined by tight end Ben Watson and several Browns alumni. Jim Donovan, the voice of the Browns, emceed the luncheon, which included an appearance from new UA football coach Terry Bowden.

"This one is really about thanking the fans of Akron because they are such great fans down here ... and expanding my reach in Ohio," Holmgren said.

Schwartz signs: Offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz, a second-round pick by the Browns, signed his four-year deal Friday, a source said. The max value of the contract is $5.17 million. It includes a $2.206 million signing bonus. They also signed linebacker Emmanuel Acho, a sixth-round pick, and Winn each to four-year deals worth $2.178 million, including a $78,680 signing bonus, according to Scout.com.

Staff writers Mary Kay Cabot, Dennis Manoloff and Tom Reed contributed to this report.