Browns Lose $37.5 Million Pro Bowl Starter for Entire 2025 Season: Report

The Cleveland Browns were dealt a significant blow on Monday, as a lingering injury sidelined one of their top defensive players for the upcoming season.

Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered a scary neck injury as the result of a hit on Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry in the middle of last season. The issue resulted in a short hospital stay as well as Owusu-Koramoah sitting out the final nine contests of the campaign.

The same injury has continued to impact the recent Pro Bowler. On May 12, the Browns made the difficult, though necessary, decision to place the 25-year-old linebacker on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, which means he will miss the entire 2025 season.

Owusu-Koramoah recently inked a three-year contract worth $37.5 million that runs through the 2027 campaign. He tallied 101 tackles, including 20 tackles for loss, six pass breakups, five quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions and a forced fumble across 16 games played for the Browns in 2023, which was his Pro-Bowl campaign and third NFL season.

Cleveland selected Owusu-Koramoah with the No. 52 overall pick in the second round of the 2021 draft out of Notre Dame University.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Browns GM Andrew Berry Made Statements Monday

Browns general manager Andrew Berry and Owusu-Koramoah offered public statements on Monday following the news.

“Jeremiah’s health is of the utmost importance to us and although he has made progress towards recovery, we’ve made the decision to place him on Reserve/PUP, which means he will not play football during the 2025 season,” Berry said. “Jeremiah has the full support of our team, and we expect him to continue to be a part of the organization even though he will not return to the field this year. We will not make any predictions on Jeremiah’s football future at this time, but we do note that he’s in good spirits and will continue to take the advice of the world-class medical experts who will continue to guide his progress and recovery.”

Owusu-Koramoah added his own comments.

“To the Cleveland Browns fanbase and my supporters worldwide — thank you for your patience in my silence. From day one, you embraced me as more than a player, but also as a brother and young man with purpose,” Owusu-Koramoa said. “I’m grateful to the Browns organization for their full support, and to the world-class doctors guiding me through recovery. 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 Drafted Carson Schwesinger as Potential Replacement for Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

The Browns used the first pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft (No. 33 overall) to acquire linebacker Carson Schwesinger out of UCLA.

Considering the announcement on Owusu-Koramoah that came just over two weeks after the draft concluded, the pick makes even more sense than it already did.

Cleveland may ask Schwesinger to step into a starting role as a rookie after a quality junior campaign in 2024 characterized by 90 solo tackles, including 9 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble across 12 games played.

“Cleveland needed to bolster a run defense that gave up an average of 4.5 yards per carry last season, and it is addressing it at linebacker,” ESPN’s Steve Muench wrote. “Owusu-Koramoah suffered a significant neck injury and 33-year old Jordan Hicks missed five games in 2024.”