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Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah may never play again.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is facing the grim possibility that his NFL career is over after suffering a severe neck injury.
Owusu-Koramoah, a Pro Bowler in 2023 and one of the pillars of Cleveland’s defense, has not played since a violent collision with Derrick Henry in October 2024. He was carted off the field and ultimately missed the remainder of the season, then all of 2025, as he continued rehabbing the injury.
The Browns ruled Owusu-Koramoah out for last season in May, confirming what many feared. Shortly afterward, the linebacker released a heartfelt letter addressing his uncertain future and thanking the Browns community for its support.
“To the Cleveland Browns fanbase and my supporters worldwide—thank you for your patience in my silence,” Owusu-Koramoah wrote. “From day one, you embraced me as more than a player, but also as a brother and young man with purpose.
“While I won’t suit up this season, I’m focused on what I can control—my healing, my mindset, and my faith. The body may rest, but the calling never sleeps. I’ve given my heart to this game. I don’t know what’s next, but I’ll continue trusting my medical team, serving the community, and backing my brothers on the field.”
According to Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, the outlook remains bleak for Owusu-Koramoah.
“It’s doubtful at best that he’ll ever make it back to the playing field,” Cabot reported.
Browns Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Exceeded Expectations
The Browns selected Owusu-Koramoah in the second round out of Notre Dame, and it didn’t take long for him to outperform his draft slot. He started 25 games across his first two seasons before taking a major leap in 2023, emerging as one of the most versatile defenders on the roster.
That season, Owusu-Koramoah totaled 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six passes defensed. Browns general manager Andrew Berry pointed to his rare impact as a blitzer as the trait that set him apart.
“For us to maybe go outside of the norm (and draft a linebacker that high), we have to project them to be able to do something special or well above average in the passing game,” Berry said. “And for Jeremiah, that was really his ability as a blitzer. He was a great run defender because he can make plays behind the line of scrimmage and everything, but he was really special – or is really special, I should say, as a blitzer.”
Browns Found Their Next Defensive Leader in Carson Schwesinger
While Owusu-Koramoah’s future remains uncertain, the Browns appear to have uncovered their next defensive cornerstone. Cleveland struck gold in the draft by selecting Carson Schwesinger at No. 33 overall. Schwesinger started all 16 games as a rookie and quickly became the defense’s tone-setter, leading the team with 156 tackles—sixth-most in the NFL—while adding 2.5 sacks, three passes defensed, and two interceptions. His breakout season earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Schwesinger credited Owusu-Koramoah as an early mentor during his rookie campaign.
“He’s definitely one of the ones that you want to emulate, and me specifically, especially coming into this system,” Schwesinger said during rookie camp. “I plan to be able to pick his brain a lot and learn a lot from him.”
Owusu-Koramoah signed a three-year extension with the Browns in August 2024 worth $12.5 million per year, with $20 million fully guaranteed at signing. The deal runs through the 2027 season, and $11.031 million of his salary is guaranteed in 2026.
J.R. DeGroote JR DeGroote is a staff writer for Heavy.com, where he has covered the NFL, NBA, and trending sports stories since 2019. His work focuses on some of the most passionate fanbases in sports, including reporting on the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Lakers. More about J.R. DeGroote
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