Browns make painful decision on star defender to start minicamp

The Cleveland Browns had to make a painful, gut-wrenching decision this week leading up to the 2026 NFL Training Camp period.

After a successful 2026 NFL Draft for the franchise, the Browns look to be in better shape for the upcoming season. And with former Baltimore Ravens’ offensive coordinator Todd Monken being named the head coach, the hype surrounding Cleveland continues to grow this offseason. However, newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg will reportedly be without one of the team’s best defensive players next season.

According to NFL insider Adam Schefter on Friday morning, the Browns have placed former 2021 second-round pick, linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The decision to place the star defender on the list means that he will miss the entire 2026 NFL season.

Browns’ journey with Owusu-Koramoah

Owusu-Koramoah, after a spectacular stint with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in college, quickly became a top prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft class. However, the stout linebacker would fall to the second round of the draft, causing general manager Andrew Berry to take the talented playmaker.

Throughout his first two seasons with the Browns, Owusu-Koramoah showed plenty of flashes, recording 146 tackles, eight pass deflections, four forced fumbles, and 1.5 sacks in 25 games. However, the highly touted linebacker had his breakout season with the organization back in 2023, finishing the season with 101 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions.

Unfortunately for the rising star, he was unable to build off his successful campaign in 2023, as he suffered a devastating neck injury in 2024 that has since sidelined him. This prompted Berry to select UCLA’s Carson Schwesinger in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, which paid off for the Browns’ defense last season. The 23-year-old linebacker ended his rookie season with 156 tackles and two interceptions, which paved the way for him to be named the 2025 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.