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Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is not expected back next season after a serious neck injury.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah appeared to dispute a recent report that said his career in the NFL could be over following a neck injury.
Owusu-Koramoah, a Pro Bowler in 2023, 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.
Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reported that it’s “doubtful at best that he’ll ever make it back to the playing field.”
“While many Browns fans have envisioned a dream linebacker duo of 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Carson Schwesinger and 2023 Pro Bowler Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, it’s not expected to come to fruition,” Cabot said.
After the report surfaced, Owusu-Koramoah appeared to push back on social media against the idea that his football career is over.
“Someone catch me up on the news?” he said.
Browns’ Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s Heartfelt Message After Missed Season
The Browns drafted Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the second round out of Notre Dame, and it didn’t take long for him to become a fixture in the defense. He started 25 games over his first two seasons before breaking out in a big way in 2023, establishing himself as one of Cleveland’s most versatile and impactful defenders. That year, Owusu-Koramoah piled up 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and six passes defensed.
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.
The Browns ruled out Owusu-Koramoah for the year before training camp last season. After it was announced that he would be sidelined, JOK issued a heartfelt statement.
“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.”
Browns Star Carson Schwesinger Takes Tips From JOK
Part of what eased Owusu-Koramoah’s absence was the arrival of standout rookie Carson Schwesinger. Schwesinger started 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.
During rookie camp, Schwesinger praised Owusu-Koramoah and sought his advice.
“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.”
Another linebacker the Browns are hoping to keep in the mix is veteran Devin Bush. He notched 125 total tackles and returned two interceptions for touchdowns.
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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