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Denzel Ward cleared to play, but Browns place Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on injured reserve
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- Denzel Ward cleared to play, but Browns place Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on injured reserve
CLEVELAND — Add one more Browns Pro Bowler to the list of players expected to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers . Add one more standout to the injured reserve list as well.
Cornerback Denzel Ward cleared concussion protocol on Saturday, the final step required for him to play against Los Angeles . Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah , meanwhile, was placed on injured reserve because of the neck injury he sustained last week against the Baltimore Ravens and will miss a minimum of four games.
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The Browns announced Saturday there would be no injury designation on Ward against the Chargers. He was listed as questionable initially on Friday.
"Yeah, great to see Denzel out there," Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday. "He's been engaged in the meetings and the walkthroughs, those type of things. So, he's doing a nice job staying on top of everything."
The Browns also elevated defensive tackle Sam Kamara from the practice squad to the game day roster. Kamara has appeared in four games this season with the Browns.
Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) and cornerback Denzel Ward (21) break up a pass intended for New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) during the second half of an NFL football game at Huntington Bank Field, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Both Ward and Owusu-Koramoah left last Sunday's win over the Baltimore Ravens in the third quarter because of injuries. Ward was pulled out of the game after the Browns' first defensive snap by the independent spotter, while Owusu-Koramoah was immobilized on a backboard and taken to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center after his injury with 40 seconds remaining.
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It was the sixth documented concussion of Ward's NFL career, which began in 2018, and the second one he's sustained this year. After returning from the fifth one, which he suffered on Aug. 12, Ward made it clear he wasn't interested in having a conversation about potential retirement.
"I'm a football player. That's what I love doing since I was a little kid, so that's the only thing I wanted to do," Ward said on Aug. 29. "I'm playing my dream. So when I get out here, I don't think about, oh, I might get hurt or I might get a concussion. I just go out there and the main focus is winning and having fun out here, and so it's not too hard for me to put it behind me.
"Stuff happening in life, stuff happening in the game that may not go our way, but just about responding and coming out here and having fun."
Ward has played in all eight games and has posted a league-high 12 passes defensed. He's the only cornerback in the league to have at least 10 passes defensed in each of the last seven seasons, while his 88 passes defensed are second only to the Philadelphia Eagles ' James Bradberry .
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The only other injury of note for Ward this season was a shoulder issue that limited him to 11 defensive snaps in a Week 2 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars . He played 28 defensive snaps against the Ravens, while a hamstring issue ruled him out of the second half of a Week 5 loss to the Washington Commanders .
Owusu-Koramoah suffered his injury while attempting to tackle 247-pound Ravens running back Derrick Henry , whose right shoulder collided with Owusu-Koramoah's head.
Owusu-Koramoah had movement in his extremities when he left the stadium Sunday for the hospital. He was kept overnight for observation, but released on Monday.
The only public comment from Owusu-Koramoah was a post on his X account , @j_owuu, Monday saying, "All is well. Alhamdulillah." He has been in the building during the week.
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Owusu-Koramoah was leading the team in combined tackles (60), solo stops (38), assisted tackles (22), interceptions (one) and tackles for loss (10). Mohamoud Diabate and Winston Reid will receive more snaps in Owusu-Koramoah's place, with Diabate assuming the defensive signal-caller role.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Denzel Ward cleared to play, but Browns place JOK on injured reserve
