Schwesinger dealing with Grade 1 ankle sprain

Schwesinger notched 156 total tackles, 67 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 11 TFLs, three pass breakups and two interceptions despite missing Week 18 with a high-ankle sprain. It was an extremely impressive season for the No. 33 overall pick in last year’s draft.

Schewsinger battled through 16 games despite an ankle injury and looks to be the favorite to walk away with the defensive rookie of the year award after posting 156 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions in his inaugural season. Bengals running backs could operate a little more freely than usual in Week 18.

Schwesinger suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 8’s loss to the Patriots. The rookie linebacker avoided landing on injured reserve, but only managed to get on the field for one practice this week. The questionable designation may be a bit too optimistic for Schwesinger this week, but he’s clearly trending toward a return and could be good to go for Week 11 if not this week.

Now that we have the diagnosis, it’s safe to assume the rookie second-rounder is likely looking at a multi-week absence. Schwesinger has stepped in to make an immediate impact for the Browns’ defense this season, leading the team with 64 tackles while also tallying one interception, one sack, and four TFLs. The Browns are now entering their Week 9 bye. If they believe Schwesinger, who will be reevaluated after the bye, can return inside of the four-game minimum he would be required to miss on injured reserve, it’s possible they opt to keep him on the roster in hopes of a return in 2-3 weeks. Regardless, his loss is a massive one for a defensive unit that has been among the league’s best despite their 2-6 record.

Owusu-Kormaoah reported to Browns offseason activities last month, but didn’t practice with the team after suffering a serious neck injury in Week 8 against the Ravens last season. The Browns released a statement saying that they “will not make any predictions on Jeremiah’s football future at this time.” Landing on the reserve/PUP list means that Owusu-Koramoah will miss the entire 2025 season. Second-round pick Carson Schwesigner would seem to have a chance to compete for a starting role in his rookie season.

Sampson (5'8/200) totaled both the fourth-most offensive touches (278) and missed tackles forced (83) among Power Five running backs last season, despite his compact frame. He is not guaranteed a year one role with Quinshon Judkins set to start and Jerome Ford still in-house but Sampson should be on re-draft radars as a player to watch in training camp. The Browns announced Sampson’s signing in conjunction with second-round pick LB Carson Schwesinger. Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Schwesinger became just “the second second-round pick in NFL history to have a fully guaranteed deal.”

Schwesinger (6’2/242) walked onto UCLA in 2021 with the hopes of being a FBS football player and quickly established himself as a valuable member of the Bruins’ roster. He earned a scholarship in 2022 as a special teams ace and part-time ‘backer who racked up 27 tackles in 26 games over the next two seasons before ascending to a starting role in 2024. He made the most of the opportunity, leading the FBS with 90 solo and 136 total tackles with 8.5 TFLs, 50 stops and 4.0 sacks while playing in 12 games. The First Team All-American excelled in every phase of the game, especially rushing the passer where he earned a 90th percentile rush grade. Schwesinger is extremely elusive and flexible when blitzing, as his absurd 27.4% pressure rate will attest, disguising his intentions right up until it’s time to go leaving blockers confused with their assignments. A smart, twitched up player whose motor runs hot, he possesses advanced instincts and knows how to get skinny to slip around blocks. His svelte frame affects his ability to take on pulling linemen, but his relentless determination and athleticism make Schwesinger a complete three-down linebacker prospect.