Julian Okwara - NFL News, Rumors, & Updates

Returning to Cleveland The Browns re-signed Okwara (undisclosed) on Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Impact Okwara spent the 2025 campaign on Cleveland's practice squad but didn't appear in any games and eventually landed on the injured list in December due to an undisclosed injury. The 28-year-old will likely spend the offseason competing for a depth spot on the team's roster.

MARCH 19 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to practice-squad IR The Browns placed Okwara (undisclosed) on the practice-squad injured list Tuesday.

Impact Okwara will not be eligible to play until Week 18. The 27-year-old hasn't appeared in a regular-season game this season after logging 18 tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, across 13 games for the Cardinals in 2024.

DECEMBER 3, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Becoming free agent Cleveland released Okwara (ribs) on Tuesday, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.

Impact Okwara wasn't able to earn a spot on the Browns' final 53-man roster for 2025, and now he's bound for free agency. He'll be free to sign with any team, but there's a chance he ultimately ends up on Cleveland's practice squad.

AUGUST 28, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Browns Make More Moves; Claim 2, Cut 2; Sign 9 to the Practice Squad, Including Kaden Davis, Julian Okwara The Browns roster is a work in progress and they brought back some familiar names.

AUGUST 27, 2025 • 247SPORTS.COM

Exits game with rib injury Okwara is questionable to return to Saturday's preseason game against the Rams due to a rib injury.

Impact Okwara suffered the injury in the third quarter during a Brennan Presley 24-yard reception. Okwara was able to walk off the field under his own power, and if he doesn't return he'll finish Saturday's game with one tackle.

AUGUST 23, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Okwara questionable to return against the Rams Okwara went down with a rib injury in the third quarter

AUGUST 23, 2025 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM

Can't-Miss Play: K.J. Henry's pick-six TD spurred by big hit from Julian Okwara Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson takes a vicious hit from Cleveland Browns' defensive end Julian Okwara and sees hi...

AUGUST 16, 2025 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM

Can't-Miss Play: K.J. Henry's pick-six TD comes off Thompson-Robinson's floated pass Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson takes a vicious hit from Cleveland Browns' defensive end Julian Okwara and sees hi...

AUGUST 16, 2025 • NFL.COM

Another Tiger Scores in Browns, Eagles Game – The Clemson Insider Another former Tiger found the endzone in the preseason game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Cleveland Browns. KJ Henry grabbed a ba...

AUGUST 16, 2025 • THECLEMSONINSIDER.COM

K.J. Henry's pick-six TD comes off Thompson-Robinson's floated pass

AUGUST 16, 2025 • YOUTUBE

Julian Okwara leads Browns' defense with two sacks vs. Panthers | Players of the Game Kaden Davis recorded two touchdowns in his first game with the Browns

AUGUST 9, 2025 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM

Former Notre Dame football star has joined the Cleveland Browns Former Notre Dame star defensive lineman Julian Okwara has signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.

APRIL 15, 2025 • USATODAY.COM

What The Julian Okwara Deal Means For The Cleveland Browns 2025 Edge Room With the signing of Julian Okwara, Jack Duffin takes a look at how the Cleveland Browns 2025 edge position room will probably look once we g...

APRIL 15, 2025 • 247SPORTS.COM

Browns sign defensive lineman Julian Okwara

The Browns signed defensive end Julian Okwara on Monday

APRIL 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Former Lions Third-Round Pick Lands With Browns Former Detroit Lions OLB Julian Okwara signs with Cleveland Browns.

APRIL 14, 2025 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Lands in Cleveland The Browns signed Okwara to a contract Monday, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.

Impact Okwara appeared in 13 regular-season games with the Cardinals in 2024, in which span he racked up 18 tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, plus one pas defensed. He operated at outside linebacker in Arizona but may settle into a depth role at defensive end with Cleveland.

APRIL 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Increased workload in 2024 Okwara finished the 2024 season with 18 total tackles (10 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding a pass defensed over 13 games.

Impact Okwara operated as a depth option at linebacker for the Cardinals in 2024, stepping up on occasion to occupy a significant role on the team's defense. The linebacker matched a career-high in 13 games played and his 18 total tackles were the second highest total of his five-year NFL career. Okwara will enter the offseason as an unrestricted free agent and he'll likely look for another opportunity elsewhere in an attempt to find a starting role.

JANUARY 16, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Kyler Murray, Cardinals look to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they visit Panthers

The Carolina Panthers have already been eliminated from playoff contention

DECEMBER 20, 2024 • Associated Press

Next man up after Gardeck injury Okwara is set to start alongside linebackers Kyzir White and Mack Wilson after Dennis Gardeck suffered a season-ending ACL injury during Monday's win over the Chargers, Kevin Zimme...

Impact Gardeck, who leads the Cardinals with three sacks this season, tore his ACL in the second half of Monday's game, and he will be out for the rest of the year. Okwara stepped in with the first-team defense following Gardeck's injury, and the former finished the game with one solo tackle across 35 snaps, including a season-high 29 snaps on defense. Okwara is the top candidate to start at linebacker alongside White and Wilson, though Krys Barnes and Jesse Luketa should also see their snaps on defense increase. Okwara's most productive season came in 2021 as a member of the Lions, during which he registered 27 tackles (18 solo), including 5.0 sacks, two pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery across 13 regular-season games.

OCTOBER 22, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Highlight: Julian Okwara races around the edge for an 8-yard sack of Jaren Hall Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Julian Okwara races around the edge for an 8-yard sack of Minnesota Vikings quarterback Jaren Hall.

AUGUST 24, 2024 • PHILADELPHIAEAGLES.COM

Julian Okwara gets to Garoppolo for second sack of '23 Detroit Lions linebacker Julian Okwara gets to Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for his second sack of 2023.

OCTOBER 31, 2023 • NFL.COM

Lions WR, USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown sports Notre Dame attire after loss

Lions receiver and USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown had to dress up as the Fighting Irish mascot after USC's loss to Notre Dame.

OCTOBER 19, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Lions WR, USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown sports Notre Dame attire after loss

NFL Teams That Could Trade for Detroit Lions Julian Okwara Is Julian Okwara on his way out of Detroit?

AUGUST 22, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Lions risers, fallers in preseason win over Giants: Big night for Julian Okwara Okwara's three sacks Friday made him a standout performer. Meanwhile, the Nate Sudfeld-Jameson Williams connection couldn't click.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Amidst calls for consistency, Lions' Julian Okwara opens preseason with three sacks Julian Okwara was a terror off the edge, doing all of the damage on third downs against the Giants.

AUGUST 12, 2023 • DETROITNEWS.COM

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Browns sign defensive lineman Julian Okwara

Kyler Murray, Cardinals look to keep slim playoff hopes alive when they visit Panthers

Lions WR, USC alum Amon-Ra St. Brown sports Notre Dame attire after loss