Browns quick hits: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, David Njoku, Hjalte Froholdt to honor heritage

BEREA − The Browns helmets bear no logos. All that is on them are the brown and white stripes that run down the center.

There will be something, though, on the back of Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah's helmet when the Browns play at Atlanta on Sunday that will hold an extra special meaning. As part of the NFL's celebration of international diversity, he will have a flag of Ghana alongside the United States flag on the back of the helmet.

"It means I have a responsibility to uphold Ghana and what it represents to me," Owusu-Koramoah, a second-year linebacker who is of Ghanaian decent, said Thursday. "The great quote from Kwame Nkrumah is ‘I’m not necessarily an African because I was born in Africa. It’s because Africa was born in me.’ And that’s very essential when we talk about the ideology and the mindset of those coming from the land to uphold that national title."

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Owusu-Koramoah is one of three Browns players who will be participating in the initiative, which will also occur for their Week 5 home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Offensive lineman Hjalte Froholdt will wear a Denmark flag, and tight end David Njoku will wear a Nigerian flag.

During the summer, Owusu-Koramoah participated in the inaugural NFL Africa: The Touchdown program that included a return to Ghana. He also made a trip back there during the spring.

This is the first time the NFL has done this initiative. More than 200 players, coaches and executives are represented in the program.

"I wouldn’t say it’s too rare," Owusu-Koramoah said. "But it is kind of a situation where it’s like you don’t see so much of people wearing like another nation’s flag. So I think it’s a great responsibility and I think I’m really appreciative of it. I give thanks to the Almighty especially for allowing me to be in this [position] to represent that type of player."

Cordarrelle Patterson remains on Browns' minds, Atlanta Falcons injury report

The Browns have been asked a lot about dealing with Cordarrelle Patterson, the 6-2, 232-pound running back who started his career as a wide receiver. Several of their coaches, including head coach Kevin Stefanski, receivers coach Chad O'Shea, defensive coordinator Joe Woods and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, have a previous history with Patterson either with the Minnesota Vikings or New England Patriots.

“I know Cordarrelle," defensive coordinator Joe Woods said. "I was in Minnesota when we drafted him. He was a very explosive returner early in his career, but he is a tough, physical runner. He is going to get north and south. A really tough mentality in terms of his mindset.

"We know we are going to have to have multiple players tackle him. We have to be able to set edges. You see some of the run game we watched on tape where he is creasing people right now on the edge. We are definitely going to have our hands full, but it is going to take everybody.”

Patterson, though, has been listed on the Falcons' injury report each of the past two days. He missed Wednesday's practice with the reason given as both rest and a knee issue.

He was not seen on the field by Atlanta-area media members during the open portion of Thursday's practice, either. The Falcons' official post-practice injury report stated he did not practice, with the same reason given.

Atlanta Falcons' tight end Kyle Pitts a 'unicorn' of sorts

The Falcons have a litany of dangerous offensive skill players. The most unique such player may just be second-year tight end Kyle Pitts.

The 6-foot-6, 247-pound Pitts was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Florida. He came in and immediately made an impact with the Falcons by setting the single-season franchise record for rookie receiving yards with 1,029 yards, only the second rookie tight end in NFL history − Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka is the other − to top 1,000 yards receiving.

What sets Pitts apart, though, is his unique ability to do so many different things despite being in a tight end's body. It's led some to even refer to him as a "unicorn" at the position.

"Yeah, unicorn, that's funny," Owusu-Koramoah said. "Yeah, he's a dynamic football player. Very versatile in his approach to the game. He can block, he can run routes well and he's fast, so, he's a guy that's very athletic. So it is a unicorn-type of situation. Like I said, we have a game plan put together and we'll see if we can slow that down."

Browns secondary continuing to grow in communication

Injuries to several key defensive players has changed the conversation around the Browns' defense this week. That hasn't made the topic of conversation a week ago, the communication between the secondary, go away just yet.

The secondary, as well as the defense as a whole, did a better job of communicating in the win over the Pittsburgh Steelers than earlier in the week in a loss to the New York Jets. The biggest pass play of the game was a spectacular one-handed grab by Steelers receiver George Pickens for 36 yards despite tight coverage by rookie cornerback Martin Emerson Jr.

It's not, however, a finished product.

"We're just talking to each other, communicating," cornerback Greg Newsome II said. "Like I said, I don't think it's at 100 percent, but we're able to limit some of those big mistakes that we've had and we're going to try to continue to get better each week."

The Steelers' Mitch Trubisky threw for 207 yards against the Browns. They gave up 309 net passing yards, including 307 by Joe Flacco, in the loss to the Jets.

Big size on Atlanta Falcons' big-play pass catchers

The secondary will be crucial again this week against a Falcons offense that has multiple big-play weapons. Beyond Pitts, they also have a talented rookie receiver in Drake London as well as Patterson.

Newsome is banking on the experience of last Thursday to help as the Browns get ready for this Sunday. That's especially true considering the size the Falcons' potential pass catchers also possess, with Patterson, London and Pitts each at least 6-2.

"It's just going to be something you have to challenge at the catch point," Newsome said. "Luckily, we go against big receivers like Chase Claypool and George Pickens, so we've been able to see some of those bigger receivers, but you just have to be physical with them. They're big receivers, but you have to be able to challenge at the catch point."

The Falcons had 229 receiving yards on 13 catches in last Sunday's win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah among three Browns honoring heritage