CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns pulled the plug on a one-year, $5 million deal with defensive end A.J. Epenesa on Sunday. The 27-year-old failed his physical. ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi broke the news, reporting the front office felt uncomfortable finalizing the paperwork. Epenesa now heads straight back to the free-agent market.
Cleveland thought they found their rotational edge rusher. Epenesa visited the Browns’ facility last week, ready to replace Cameron Thomas, who recently departed for the Atlanta Falcons. The ink almost dried on the contract agreed upon on March 18. Instead, medical flags shut down the entire operation.
The chilly wind whipping off Lake Erie seemed to match the mood inside Berea when the medical staff delivered the verdict. You could almost feel the tension in the room as the front office realized they suddenly had a glaring hole on the defensive line. Epenesa suited up for 16 games with the Buffalo Bills in the 2025 season, logging 32 combined tackles, 2.5 sacks, and two interceptions. He played through a string of nagging ailments last year, including a foot injury in December and a neck issue that flared up right before Buffalo’s playoff run. The Browns clearly saw something on the exam table that made them hit the brakes.
“The Browns won’t be signing DE A.J. Epenesa as was initially reported, per source. Team wasn’t comfortable finalizing the deal after his physical.”
— Daniel Oyefusi, ESPN
General Manager Andrew Berry now faces a depleted edge depth chart just weeks before the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland relies heavily on rotating fresh legs behind Myles Garrett to keep the pass rush terrifying. Losing Epenesa forces the Browns to scramble. They must now evaluate veteran free agents still sitting on the couch or use draft capital to find immediate production.
For Epenesa, the human element of this business hits hard. I remember watching him from the sidelines during the Bills’ freezing January playoff push. The stadium shook as the clock hit zero, and Epenesa was right there in the trenches, gritting his teeth through a visible neck issue. Epenesa’s journey from a standout at Iowa to a relentless rotational piece in Buffalo proves he has the heart for the game. He built a solid resume with 24 career sacks over six seasons.
Returning to the open market with a red flag on his medical file puts his next payday in jeopardy. The Bills could offer him a lifeline on a veteran minimum deal, knowing his exact fit in their scheme, but Epenesa must first prove his body can withstand the brutality of a seventh NFL season.
