Browns make career-altering decision regarding Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

For a piece published on Feb. 21 of this year, Cleveland Browns reporter Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer revealed that it was "doubtful at best" that Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would ever return to action from the serious neck injury that has kept him sidelined since October 2024. 

Owusu-Koramoah later seemed to dispute that claim via social media, but there's now more evidence that Cabot was correct. 

Browns make expected Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah decision

On Friday, the Browns confirmed that they have placed Owusu-Koramoah on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. As Pro Football Talk's Josh Alper noted, Owusu-Koramoah is now removed from the 90-man roster and won't be activated at any point during the 2026 season. 

Cleveland selected Owusu-Koramoah in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, and he showed plenty of promise before he earned a Pro Bowl nod for his third season. However, both his career and life were changed after a violent collision with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry on Oct. 27, 2024, left the linebacker needing to be carted off the field. 

Owusu-Koramoah hasn't played since, as he spent the entire 2025 campaign on the PUP list. The fact that the Browns made this move before the start of their OTAs (May 19) would lead one to believe everyone involved has accepted a harsh truth regarding Owusu-Koramoah's situation. 

Browns have already replaced Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

Last spring, the Browns spent a second-round draft selection on linebacker Carson Schwesinger. Schwesinger became a bright spot for a club that ended the 2025 season with a record of 5-12, as he went on to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year Award honors. ESPN stats show that Schwesinger finished his first pro campaign ranked sixth in the NFL with 156 total tackles that he recorded across 16 games.

Meanwhile, Owusu-Koramoah has tallied 308 tackles, eight sacks, three interceptions, six forced fumbles, 17 passes defensed and 40 tackles for loss over 49 career regular-season games. In April, the Browns shared that he had been accepted into the Harvard Kennedy School to pursue a master's degree in public policy. His classes are set to begin this fall.