Cleveland Browns rule out linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah for 2026 campaign following persistent neck injury
General manager Andrew Berry expressed limited optimism for a return, citing the player's hospitalisation after a tackle on Derrick Henry in October 2024.
The Cleveland Browns have officially placed linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, effectively ruling him out for the 2026 season due to a neck injury. This roster move marks the second consecutive year the 26-year-old has missed an entire campaign, following a period of absence that began in October 2024.
The injury occurred during a tackle on Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, an incident that resulted in Owusu-Koramoah being briefly hospitalised. Since that event, the player has not returned to the field, a status that was previously acknowledged when the club placed him on the reserve/PUP list in May 2025.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry addressed the situation at the NFL Combine in February, stating he was not "overly optimistic" about Owusu-Koramoah playing in the upcoming season. The assessment reflects the severity of the neck injury and the uncertainty surrounding his long-term physical capacity to perform at the professional level.
Despite the ongoing medical restrictions, the organisation previously committed to the player's future by signing him to a three-year extension worth up to $39 million in August 2024. This contract came after Owusu-Koramoah was named to his first Pro Bowl following a career-high 101 tackles in the 2023 season.
While sidelined, Owusu-Koramoah is currently pursuing a master's degree in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. The linebacker was originally selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Browns out of Notre Dame, establishing a significant tenure with the franchise before this latest setback.
The specific long-term prognosis for Owusu-Koramoah's neck injury beyond the 2026 season remains undetailed in current reports. It is also unclear whether the player will attempt to return to active duties in the future or if he will retire following the conclusion of the 2026 campaign.
