The Browns waived cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu on Saturday amid concerns about whether he'll ever be able to recover enough from a devastating knee injury to play in the NFL.
He was released with a non-football injury designation because he hurt his knee before he joined the Browns.
The previous regime took a flyer on him in the seventh round (No. 241 overall) of last year's draft in hopes he could make a comeback. He suffered a dislocated left knee in addition to a torn anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 16, 2014, while practicing with the University of Oregon in preparation for the Rose Bowl.
Ekpre-Olomu, 22, sat out all last season while rehabilitating the surgically repaired knee. The Browns ultimately cut him because the knee hasn't progressed at the rate they had hoped it would.
Many draft analysts believe he would have been a first- or second-round selection if his knee hadn't been shredded. He reportedly collected $3 million in October on a loss of value insurance policy for slipping in the draft.
On Feb. 15, Ekpre-Olomu provided an optimistic update about his health on Instagram. However, he has yet to follow up with more information.
"Thank you lord for an amazing life and even more for the amazing people around me," Ekpre-Olomu wrote. "Although this past year has had many ups and downs, I'm finally close to the point I want to be. Now it's time to get better as a player and person. A lot of people have asked about my recovery. I'm not quite 100 yet but I'm close and in the next couple of weeks I'll show you some of the progress I've made. Thank you everyone who has been following me through this journey."
The release of Ekpre-Olomu provides a reminder about the questions the Browns face at cornerback.
Two-time Pro Bowl selection Joe Haden is coming off left ankle surgery, and Browns head of football operations Sashi Brown recently said the team doesn't know whether he'll be able to return in time for the 2016 season opener.
Justin Gilbert, the eighth overall pick in 2014, has yet to prove he can be reliable on or off the field. Tramon Williams played well at times last season, but he's 33 now.
Nickel corner K'Waun Williams suffered three concussions the past two seasons, and Pierre Desire and Charles Gaines struggled in limited playing time last season.
All of this points to the Browns likely addressing the position in the April 28-30 draft.