Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will continue to recover from a neck injury and will not play in 2025. Beyond that, nobody can say at this time.
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from Browns news and notes …
The mystery of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s status for the 2025 season is over.
Six-and-a-half months after injuring his neck on a head-on collision with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry, JOK and the Browns jointly announced that he will spend the 2025 season inactive on the reserve/PUP list as he continues to recover.
In a statement released by the Browns, GM Andrew Berry said:
“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. 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.”
JOK, 25, was a second-round pick in the 2021 draft. In his third season in 2023, he led the team with 101 tackles and added two interceptions and 3 ½ sacks. He was the first Browns player drafted by Berry to earn Pro Bowl recognition. He was rewarded the following August with a three-year contract worth up to $39 million.
In 2024, JOK was on pace for 129 tackles, two interceptions and six sacks when the injury felled him. He was taken to a hospital for observation but never lost movement in his arms or legs.
JOK has not addressed the media since the injury on October 27. He issued a statement in the form of letter to fans.
“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.
“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.
“Love always,
“JOK”
The Browns prepared for JOK’s absence in the middle of their defense by selecting UCLA linebacker Carson Schwesinger with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2025 draft.
Safety help
With voluntary OTA practices on tap in two weeks, the Browns filled a significant void on defense by adding two veteran safeties, Rayshawn Jenkins and Damontae Kazee.
Jenkins, 31, has played eight NFL seasons with the Chargers, Jaguars and the Seahawks in 2024. He has played mostly as a strong safety (closer to the line of scrimmage) in his career and has 10 interceptions in 122 games.
Kazee, 31, also has played eight NFL seasons with the Falcons, Cowboys and the past three years with the Steelers. He has played both safety positions and also nickel back and has 17 interceptions in 107 games. He led the NFL with seven interceptions in 2018 with the Falcons.
Grant Delpit is the starting strong safety. Ronnie Hickman and Kazee figure to compete at free safety.
The Browns waived safety Trey Dean to make room on the 90-player roster.
More QB reps mean more receivers
Coach Kevin Stefanski hinted on Saturday that in order to get all four quarterbacks enough reps in their summer competition he would add an extra throwing period in practices and that could require more receivers on the roster.
Sure enough, the Browns signed three receivers who impressed in their invited tryouts in last weekend’s rookie minicamp.
Signed to contracts were Luke Floriea of Kent State and Mentor HS, Kisean Johnson of Western Kentucky and Cade McDonald of Miami (Ohio).
The additions – plus the release of Ja’Seem Reed – raised the receiver roster to 12.