The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
‘JOK’ ready to shine vs. Jags
Browns second-round pick expected to play ‘a lot’ in preseason opener
Browns coaches and scouts did everything but jump onto the table and dance in celebration when they were able to move up in the second round of the draft to select Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in April.
The lean, quick linebacker from Notre Dame was projected to be taken in the first round. But after 19 players were picked in the second round, he was still available. Browns general manager Andrew Berry traded picks 59 and 89 to the Carolina Panthers for picks 52 and 113. He used the 52nd pick on the player known to teammates as “Wu.”
Fans will get a glimpse of what all the fuss surrounding Owusu-Koramoah is about on Aug. 14 when the Browns open their preseason in Jacksonville against the Jaguars. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Owusu-Koramoah missed the first 10 days of training camp while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He was activated on Aug. 3 and has been making up for lost time.
“He’s working really hard to get caught up, and he worked hard while he was out of the building to make sure that he was ready to hit the ground running,” Coach Kevin Stefanski said before practice Aug. 12. “He’s a rookie. He’s learning. He’s making mistakes, and then you have to correct them and get better.
“He’s going to make mistakes Saturday night. We get that. Hopefully, he makes them at 100 miles an hour and learns from them. He’s working hard to make sure that he’s ready to go.”
Stefanski said “the majority of the starters” will be rested against the Jaguars, which is no surprise.
He wants to see what the rookies and veterans fighting for backup spots can do against another team. The pace will be faster and the hitting harder than what most of the training camp practices have been.
“My expectations are obviously high,” Owusu Koramoah said. “I thought I was up to speed when I first came back. I did the walkthroughs and I ran through the plays in my mind and
ran through the plays on the white board (while on the COVID-19 list). But there is nothing really like those in-game or in-practice reps to be able to simulate exactly how it feels to be out there and to have other guys coming at you ready to block you, trying to execute and being able to process things in a split second.
“Saturday night will be a good experience for me to be able to get those reps
that I was missing. I think it will be a catch-up for me.”
Owusu-Koramoah has been lining up as the weakside linebacker — the linebacker on the opposite side of the field as the opposing tight end — in practice. Third-year linebacker Mack Wilson, who is having the best training camp in his three years with the Browns, is the starter. Malcolm Smith is listed ahead of JOK on the unofficial depth chart.
Notes
Seven players were held from practice Aug. 12 because of hamstring injuries — defensive end Myles Garrett, safety Ronnie Harrison, wide receiver Anthony Schwartz, safety Grant Delpit, cornerback M.J. Stewart, wide receiver Alexander Hollins and linebacker Montrel Meander.
Cornerback Denzel Ward missed his fifth straight
practice with what the Browns are saying is soreness. Defensive tackle Malik McDowell (rib) and safety Sheldrick Redwine (ankle) also missed practice.
Stefanski said the plan is to alternate Cody Parkey and Chase McLaughlin on place kicks against the Jaguars. Each player was 3-of-4 on Aug. 12. Parkey was wide right from 45 yards. McLaughlin was wide right from 36 yards.