Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah will miss the 2026 NFL season. The Cleveland Browns confirmed his status Friday morning. His ongoing neck recovery follows a 2024 collision with Derrick Henry. This marks his second straight year on the sideline.

According to ESPN, Owusu-Koramoah had a violent collision with the Ravens' running back Derrick Henry on October 27, 2024. Since then, there have been doubts about the LB’s return on the field and the timing of it. The Browns took to social media on Friday morning to announce his absence from the field for the upcoming season too.

“The Cleveland Browns have placed LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (neck) on reserve/physically unable to perform. In addition, the club has designated P. Nik Constantinou as the team’s international player,” announced the team, as per Newsweek.

While Owusu-Koramoah’s long-term health remains a priority, his experience will be missed on the field. The current linebacker squad is a young team that’s still developing talent and carving out developed roles on the defence.

The Notre-Dame alum was the second-round pick of the Browns in the 2021 NFL Draft. He made it to the Pro Bowl in 2023 and signed a three-year extension of $39 million with the Browns in 2024.

Before the injury, Owusu-Koramoah played 49 games, of which 41 were as a starter. He has totalled 308 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 14 QB hits, eight sacks, six forced fumbles, and three interceptions.

In 2023 alone, Jeremiah recorded 71 solo tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions. He became an important part of the defensive core alongside Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward.

Now, as the injured linebacker misses another NFL season, Owusu-Koramoah has kept himself busy pursuing his personal goals off the field.

Owusu-Koramoah’s Future Plans and Personal Goals

A few hours before the team officially announced his season status, Koramoah took to social media to share a message. “Never chase what God is removing from your life. Trust the exit,” read his message. 

Newsweek reports that the linebacker’s message could be hinting towards a potential retirement from football. It’s a valid speculation considering Owusu-Koramoah’s statements to the media after his injury about his “broader contribution to the world” beyond football.

In conversation with Kelsey Russo, associate editor and staff writer at clevelandbrowns.com, Owusu-Koramoah shared his thoughts, saying, “There’s so much more to life”.

He further added that his ultimate goal is to translate everything he has learned through football into a broader contribution to the world. Owusu-Koramoah applied to the Harvard Kennedy School in December 2025 to pursue a master's degree in public policy. His classes begin in the fall of 2026.

The Browns have offered full support to Owusu throughout his decision to apply and pursue a master’s degree.

Read more at Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Naomi Grace

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi