CLEVELAND, OHIO (TheOBR.com) – Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
THE DAILY BLOVIATION
Good morning, Cleveland Browns fans!
Well, if there’s one thing we Browns fans have learned over the decades, it’s that just when you think things are looking up, the football gods remind you that hope is a four-letter word in Cleveland. From Red Right 88 to Earnest Byner’s fumble, to this very day, the Browns’ luck always seems bad, often precisely at the moment when things seem to be going well.
And this morning, that reminder comes in the form of some truly devastating news about Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah.
Look, I know that “bad luck” has nothing to do with the Cleveland Browns. What we call “bad luck” in football are random events whose severity is based on how well the team is prepared. If the 80s Browns were a slightly better team, it wouldn’t have mattered that Byner fumbled that ball. If the Browns had a deeper linebacker room, the Browns situation with JOK (and Devin Bush) wouldn’t seem as bad as it does this morning.
I wouldn’t say that “bad luck” doesn’t exist – negative and positive randomness are both things – but it just seems worse in the Browns case because of how thin the margin of error is for a team that seems perpetually behind the curve.
Regarding JOK, Mary Kay Cabot dropped the hammer yesterday, reporting that it’s now doubtful the linebacker will ever return to the field following the violent collision with Ravens running back Derrick Henry back on October 27, 2024. Let that sink in for a moment. We’re likely talking about the end of a brilliant young career. And a $39 million investment, gone. More importantly, one of the most dynamic defensive players in the league was silenced by a neck injury that medical experts say is too severe to risk returning from.
Another brilliant player, like Nick Chubb, was taken away from the Cleveland Browns in a matter of seconds. Now, it’s JOK, like Chubb, a second-round draft pick who emerged as a first-rate star.
Like the Chubb injury, if you watched that hit on JOK live, you knew immediately something was wrong. Henry lowered his shoulder, JOK came in to make the tackle, and the impact was frightening. The fact that he hasn’t been cleared to return in the months since speaks volumes about the severity of the injury.
So where does that leave the Browns’ linebacker corps? In a word: a little desperate despite the emergence of Carson Schwesinger in 2025.
Let’s take inventory here. JOK—your starting linebacker, your playmaker, your guy who could cover tight ends and blow up running plays with equal efficiency—is likely done. Devin Bush Jr., whom the Browns brought in to provide veteran depth and seemingly returned to his old Pittsburgh rookie form, is now a free agent as of March 9th. That’s less than three weeks away, folks, and teams like the Dallas Cowboys are likely eyeing the opportunity. The Browns need to decide whether to bring him back at a much higher salary or let him walk, and if they let him walk, they’re staring down a massive hole at one of the most critical positions on defense.
This isn’t just about losing talent—it’s about losing versatility. JOK wasn’t just a linebacker; he was essentially a defensive Swiss Army knife. You could drop him into coverage, blitz him off the edge, or have him spy on mobile quarterbacks. Finding someone who can do even half of what JOK brought to the table isn’t going to be easy, and it sure as hell won’t be cheap. The Browns have had a season to learn what it’s like to live without him, but the hope that he would return and take this defense to another level is now gone.
Does this news mean an increased possibility that the Browns will take Caleb Downs, the smart and versatile Buckeye safety? I’d still say no. The answer will likely come from elsewhere.
The rumors are already swirling about potential replacements. Logan Wilson from Cincinnati has been mentioned as a possible target—he’s a proven starter in this division, knows what it takes to win in the AFC North, and wouldn’t require the learning curve of a rookie. But Wilson’s not going to come cheap, and the Browns have many, many needs to fill on the other side of the ball.
With JOK likely out and Bush looking for a payday, Andrew Berry has his work cut out for him, and the decision he makes at this position will have ripple effects throughout the entire defense.
Maybe it’s time for a little good luck.
Have a good one! GO BROWNS!
OBR GOODIES
OBR ARTICLES
Cleveland Browns Free Agency Preview – Center – Jack
Cleveland Browns News and Rumors 02/21/26: Exploding Brains and Dubious Alliances – Barry
FROM THE FORUMS
– JOK: Seeing reports he’s doubtful
– Not on My Bingo Card as a Browns Fan
– LiveWire Thread for 2/21 – Twitter, Video, Articles
THE LIFT
Positive news from the world of sports and beyond…
OK, I’m just picking this one because the giraffe looks like a goof and is named “Eugene”. Plus, there’s a (Toledo) Ohio connection. Nothing profound here, just a funny-looking baby giraffe that everyone loves.
WRAPPING UP
When not insistent that the Browns aren’t cursed, Barry McBride is the Publisher and Founder of the OBR and bloviates this nonsense every morning. You can follow him on Twitter @barrymcbride or write him at barry@theobr.com if you are so compelled.
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