Browns LB Owusu-Koramoah suffers 'scary' neck injury and will spend overnight in hospital as a precaution

CLEVELAND (AP) — For the second straight week, the Cleveland Browns gathered on the field and surrounded a seriously injured teammate.

Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah had to be immobilized and carted off the field Sunday after injuring his neck while making a tackle in the third quarter of Cleveland’s 29-24 victory against the Baltimore Ravens.

Owusu-Koramoah was injured at the end of a play when he took the brunt of a hit while trying to tackle Ravens running back Derrick Henry.

A team spokesman said Owusu-Koramoah, in his fourth season at Notre Dame, had movement in his arms and legs when he was taken to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He will be held overnight as a precaution, the team said.

Owusu-Koramoah, who is a Protective cap over his helmet, raised a fist as he was wheeled toward the tunnel at Huntington Bank Field, a moment that brought some relief to Browns fans.

The sight of Owusu-Koramoah, the team’s leading tackler, having his face mask removed and tied to a backboard was unsettling for the Browns.

“That’s one of my best friends on the team,” said defensive player Ogbo Okoronkwo. ‘To see him hurts me. All I can do is pray and play for him.”

“It’s very scary when that happens,” Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said.

A week ago, the Browns lost quarterback Deshaun Watson for the season when he tore his right Achilles tendon during a running game.

Browns star player Myles Garrett said he spoke briefly with Owusu-Koramoah before he was taken away.

“I saw the hit as it happened,” Garrett said. “It was a violent clash and two strong, powerful men. I think JOK just went low, hit him on the side of the head a little bit and knocked his head back a little bit. It’s part of the game.”

Browns cornerback Denzel Ward was placed on concussion protocol after the game. This is the sixth documented concussion in the NFL for Ward, a three-time Pro Bowler and first-round draft pick out of Ohio State.