The Cleveland Browns have suffered a significant blow to their defense, as linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been ruled out for the second consecutive season due to a neck injury. The team officially placed him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list on Friday, removing the 2023 Pro Bowler from their 90-man roster and making him ineligible for activation this season.
Owusu-Koramoah, a 2021 second-round draft pick out of Notre Dame, last took the field in an NFL game back in October 2024, when he sustained the neck injury that has since sidelined his career. Browns general manager Andrew Berry expressed cautious pessimism back in February, telling reporters he was "not overly optimistic" that the 26-year-old would ever return to the gridiron.
In the meantime, Owusu-Koramoah has been channeling his energy off the field. He's currently pursuing a master's degree in public policy at Harvard University, demonstrating the same determination that made him a standout linebacker. Speaking to Browns website reporter Kelsey Russo in April, he opened up about his recovery journey and the tough decisions ahead.
"For my recovery, I have been resting and going through different treatments, whether it's soft tissue work, needling or other forms of therapy," Owusu-Koramoah shared. "But most importantly, I've been in deep conversation with specialists and physicians trying to understand the true risks of returning. It's not just whether I can play again; it's about understanding the cost of continuing and making a decision with one-hundred percent certainty."
His absence is a tough pill to swallow for Browns fans, especially given his breakout 2023 season. That year, he recorded 71 solo tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions, anchoring a formidable defensive core alongside stars like Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward. Over his first two seasons, he played 25 games, showing flashes of the playmaking ability that made him a second-round pick.
As the Browns gear up for another season, they'll have to move forward without one of their most promising young defenders. For Owusu-Koramoah, the focus remains on his health and future—both on and off the field.