Cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu collected the money his insurance policy guaranteed him following his knee injury, but Ekpre-Olomu said on social media Monday that he’s “close” to being able to return to the field.
The Browns drafted Ekpre-Olomu in the seventh round last year knowing that he’d be a redshirt in 2015 and far from certain to ever be able to contribute. In an Instagram post, Ekpre-Olomu said he’s been working towards returning to full speed.
“I’m not quite 100 (percent) yet but I’m close,” he wrote. “And in the next couple of weeks I’ll show you some of the progress I’ve made.”
Ekpre-Olomu, projected by many to be a first-round pick, was injured in December 2014 in a University of Oregon practice. He collected $3 million on a loss of draft value insurance policy.
The Browns didn’t get much out of second-year cornerbacks Justin Gilbert and Pierre Desir last year, so there’s opportunity for Ekpre-Olomu to contribute if he can get healthy.
“Although this past year has had many ups and downs, I’m finally close to the point I want to be,” Ekpre-Olomu said in his post. “Now it’s time to get better as a player and person.”