Dawgs By Nature
Browns will miss their leading tackler for at least 4 games as JOK heads to IR
On Saturday, the inevitable occurred when the Cleveland Browns placed LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (JOK) on injured reserve. JOK will remain there for at least four weeks.
JOK was injured in the Week 8 upset victory over division foe Baltimore Ravens. He sustained a neck injury while attempting to make a tackle in the third quarter and lay motionless on the field as he appeared unconscious.
Cleveland trainers immediately rushed onto the field. He was then immobilized and the cart was summoned. He was then taken off the field for x-rays and further evaluation of his injury.
It was decided to take him to the local hospital to further evaluate his situation where he stayed overnight.
On Friday, head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media that JOK had been to the Berea facility and was walking around. With the time a neck injury takes to fully heal, the franchise decided to place him on IR and give the player the needed rest.
Owusu-Koramoah was having another exceptional year before the injury. He was an alternate to the Pro Bowl last year, his first, after netting 101 total tackles. Currently, he is the Browns’ leading tackler with 61 and is ranked #19 in the league in total tackles.
His other stats include four QB hits, 10 tackles for loss, three sacks, three batted passes, one forced fumble, four pressures, and one knockdown. He also has seven missed tackles, ranked #20 in the league.
What is strange is this same thing occurred last season when the Browns’ leading tackler, S Grant Delpit, went down with a groin injury in Week 14 and was placed on IR. At the time, Delpit had accumulated 77 tackles while adding 1.5 sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.
For his career, JOK has 308 total tackles, 40 of which are for a loss of yardage.
The timing could not have come at a worse time. Despite a single win streak, Cleveland plays a weak team Sunday in the Los Angeles Chargers and are just two games out of a Wild Card playoff seed if they can find some wins. The Browns have a new quarterback and a new playcaller and are suddenly optimistic despite a 2-6-0 record. A win over the Chargers will decide Cleveland’s fate this season.
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LB Devin Bush is listed on the depth chart as JOK’s replacement at the WILL linebacker spot.
The Browns linebacker group is suddenly very thin as MLB Jordan Hicks has also been ruled out for the second straight game (elbow/triceps).
Cleveland does have options in that youngster Mohamoud Diabate had his best game to date against Baltimore and the coaching staff is high on rookie Winston Reid. For experienced depth, perhaps the team will reach out to Tony Fields who was released on October 22 and is currently on the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.
