CLEVELAND — For the second consecutive week, players from the Cleveland Browns came together on the field to support a gravely injured teammate. Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah suffered a neck injury while making a tackle during the third quarter of the game on Sunday, resulting in him being immobilized and carried off the field after Cleveland edged the Baltimore Ravens 29-24.
Owusu-Koramoah’s injury occurred at the conclusion of a play when he absorbed a significant hit while attempting to tackle Ravens running back Derrick Henry. According to a team spokesperson, the fourth-year player from Notre Dame demonstrated movement in both his arms and legs as he was transported to a local hospital. By Sunday evening, he was undergoing further tests and evaluations.
As he was being wheeled to the tunnel on a stretcher, Owusu-Koramoah raised his fist, which provided some comfort to the Browns’ fans witnessing the scene. The image of him secured to a backboard was troubling for the entire Browns organization.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo expressed his concern, saying, “That’s one of my best friends on the team. To see him down, hurt me. All I can do is pray and play for him.” Head coach Kevin Stefanski added, “Very scary anytime that happens,” reflecting on the gravity of the situation.
In addition to Owusu-Koramoah’s injury, the team faced another setback last week when they lost quarterback Deshaun Watson for the remainder of the season after he suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during a running play.
Myles Garrett, a key player for the Browns, mentioned he had a brief exchange with Owusu-Koramoah before he was taken away. “I saw the hit as it happened,” Garrett noted. “It was a violent collision between two strong, powerful men. I think JOK just went low, caught him on the side of the head a little bit and kind of whipped his head back. It’s part of the game.”
Additionally, cornerback Denzel Ward entered concussion protocol after the game. This marks the sixth recorded concussion of his NFL career for Ward, who is a three-time Pro Bowler and a first-round draft selection from Ohio State.