Coach Kevin Stefanski said after Sunday's 23-9 loss to the Steelers that Njoku was forced out of the contest with a knee injury, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
The Browns initially reported that Njoku was dealing with a thigh issue. Either way, the tight end's status will need to be monitored ahead of next weekend's game against the Dolphins. In the event that Njoku is sidelined further, Harold Fannin would be in line to see added TE targets, with Blake Whiteheart mixing in as well.
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Browns' David Njoku: Exits Sunday's game
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Njoku was forced out of Sunday's game against the Steelers with a thigh injury.
Prior to his exit, Njoku caught three of his six targets for 28 yards. In his absence, Harold Fannin will lead the Browns' TE corps versus Pittsburgh, with Blake Whiteheart available to mix in.
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Browns' David Njoku: Starting Tight Ends
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I'll buy back into Njoku after his performance against the Vikings in Week 5 in the first start for Dillon Gabriel. Njoku had six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown on nine targets and scored 18.7 PPR points, which was easily his best game of the season. The Steelers have allowed a tight end to score a touchdown in two of their past three games. And the last time Njoku faced Pittsburgh in Week 14 last season he caught seven passes for 42 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets.
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Browns' David Njoku: Shows rapport with Gabriel
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Njoku recorded six receptions on nine targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-17 loss to the Vikings.
Njoku was Dillon Gabriel's favorite pass catcher, as Njoku led the team in targets, receptions and yards. His biggest contribution was a nine-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter -- his first of the season -- and he also chipped in an impressive leaping catch just before halftime that went for 17 yards. This was by far Njoku's most productive performance of the season and was a positive first showing with Gabriel.
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Browns' David Njoku: Sit Tight Ends
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We'll see if things improve for Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. in Week 5 against the Vikings with Cedric Tillman (hamstring) out, along with Dillon Gabriel at quarterback for the Browns. But it's hard to trust Njoku in the majority of leagues given his slow start with no touchdowns and nine PPR points or less in all four games. Now, he has to face the Vikings in Week 5 in London, and Minnesota is No. 11 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. I'm not trusting Njoku in this matchup, especially in Gabriel's first NFL start.
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Browns' David Njoku: Logs full practice listing
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Njoku (knee) was listed as a full participant on Thursday's practice estimate, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
As was the case last week, Njoku was limited Wednesday as he manages a knee issue. But the tight end's full listing Thursday paves the way for him to be available for Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, a context in which Njoku and fellow TE Harold Fannin should both see their share of targets from rookie QB Dillon Gabriel in his first regular-season start as a pro.
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Browns' David Njoku: Limited Wednesday
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Njoku (knee) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Njoku also opened Week 4 as a limited participant in practice before upgrading to full reps in time to suit up for Cleveland's 34-10 loss to Detroit, in which he secured two of three targets for 11 yards. He'll work to reprise a similar practice pattern and gain clearance for Sunday's matchup against the Vikings in London. Njoku and Harold Fannin have consistently split pass-catching reps at the tight end position this season, resulting in reduced fantasy value for both players. It's possible, at least, that the Browns' decision to bench Joe Flacco in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel provides a spark on offense.
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Browns' David Njoku: Held in check in Week 4
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Njoku brought in two of three targets for 11 yards in the Browns' 34-10 loss to the Lions on Sunday.
Joe Flacco completed less than half his 34 pass attempts and was consistently harassed by the Lions' defense, so Njoku's modest numbers weren't necessarily unexpected. The veteran tight end continues to split pass-catching opportunities at tight end with rookie Harold Fannin, who saw six targets Sunday. Njoku's totals were season lows across the board, leaving him to try and bounce back against a capable Vikings defense during a Week 5 matchup in London.
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Browns' David Njoku: Upgrades to full practice Thursday
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Njoku (knee) upgraded to a full practice Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Njoku was limited in Wednesday's session, but his return to full work puts him on track to play Sunday against the Lions. Njoku has turned 18 targets into a 12-117-0 receiving line on 81 percent of the offensive snaps through three games this season.
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Browns' David Njoku: Logs limited practice
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Njoku (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku logged a 76 percent snap share while catching five of his seven targets for 40 yards in the Browns' 13-10 win over Green Bay in Week 3, while fellow TE Harold Fannin was on the field for 64 percent of the team's snaps on offense en route to recording a 3-25-0 receiving line on four targets. It's possible that Njoku's listed limitations Wednesday were maintenance-related, but his presence on Cleveland's initial Week 4 injury report makes his status worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's game against the Lions nonetheless.
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Browns' David Njoku: Overshadowed by Fannin
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Njoku recorded three receptions on six targets for 37 yards in Sunday's 17-16 loss to the Bengals.
Njoku was projected to be Joe Flacco's second target behind Jerry Jeudy, but he was overshadowed by several Browns' pass catchers. The most notable was rookie tight end Harold Fannin, who drew rave reviews during the preseason and carried that into the regular season with nine targets. It's likely that Njoku retakes a larger role in the offense moving forward, but Flacco's distribution of targets in Week 1 was concerning.
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Browns' David Njoku: TEs to Start
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Njoku went off in two games against the Bengals in 2024 with a combined 18 catches for 142 yards and a touchdown on 24 targets, and he scored at least 14.6 PPR points in each outing. He has top-five upside in this matchup, and he can be a star almost every week when Joe Flacco is under center. It also helps that Cincinnati was No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends last year, and I'll play the over on Njoku's 4.5 receptions prop on FanDuel.
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Browns' David Njoku: On field for minicamp
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Njoku (knee) has been an active participant at Cleveland's mandatory minicamp, which concludes Thursday, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Njoku missed the final two regular-season games of the 2024 campaign due to a knee injury and then skipped voluntary OTAs, but his participation at minicamp finally provides confirmation that he's fully healthy. The 2017 first-round pick, who turns 29 in July, figures to be extra motivated as he heads into a contract year, and with the Browns having added some competition for routes in the form of third-round rookie TE Harold Fannin, who led the FBS in terms of catches in 2024. Njoku is no stranger to underwhelming quarterback play, but as Cleveland prepares for a year in which all of Deshaun Watson (Achilles), Kenny Pickett, Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders have conceivable paths to the starting lineup, it looks inevitable that he again is faced with overcoming a tumultuous situation under center.
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Browns' David Njoku: May lose routes to rookie?
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Njoku (knee) will be joined in Cleveland's TE room by No. 67 overall pick Harold Fannin.
Fannin is a unique prospect, lacking ideal size (6-foot-3, 241 pounds) and speed (4.71 40) but still attracting plenty of NFL interest thanks to his FBS-leading 117 receptions at Bowling Green last season. Njoku is bigger, faster, stronger and a better blocker, but Fannin may ultimately push for some passing-down snaps in single-TE formations if he runs crisp routes and is quick to learn the offense. It's a comparable situation to the one in Baltimore with Isaiah Likely, who also put up huge numbers at a mediocre college program and notably didn't have much impact on Mark Andrews' role until their third season playing together. Of course, Njoku isn't held in the same regard as Andrews, and the Browns may take more of an interest in developing young players during a likely rebuilding year than the Ravens did while trying to win a Super Bowl. Meanwhile, there hasn't been any update on the knee injury that held Njoku out for the final two games of last season. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as it might just mean he avoided surgery and completed his recovery without incident.
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Browns' David Njoku: Placed on IR
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Njoku (knee) has been placed on IR by the Browns.
Njoku already was ruled out for the Browns' season finale, so the tight end now will focus on moving past the knee injury that also sidelined him Week 17. When he was available, Njoku was a viable fantasy option in 2024, having recorded a 64-505-5 line on 97 targets through 11 games played. The 28-year-old is under contract with Cleveland in 2025 and thus is slated to reprise his starting role for the team next season.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't play Saturday
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Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Ravens.
With Njoku sidelined for the Browns' season finale, Jordan Akins is in line to lead the team's tight-end corps in Week 18. Njoku -- who remains under contract with Cleveland in 2025 -- finishes his eighth NFL season with 64 catches for 505 yards and five touchdowns on 97 targets over 11 games.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (knee) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
After being estimated as a non-participant in Tuesday's walkthrough, Njoku's absence from practice both Wednesday and Thursday clouds his status for Saturday's season finale against the Ravens. If the tight end is sidelined this weekend, Jordan Akins would be in line to see an expanded role in Week 18.
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Browns' David Njoku: Fails to practice Tuesday
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Njoku (knee) was listed as a non-participant for Tuesday's walk-through practice, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku sat out the Browns' Week 17 loss to the Dolphins with the knee injury, and his absence from practice to begin Week 18 prep doesn't inspire much early confidence in his chances of suiting up in Saturday's season finale versus the Ravens. Even if Njoku gets the green light to play Saturday, his snap count could be monitored carefully, and his fantasy prospects will likely be further hindered by the Browns using either or both of Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) and Bailey Zappe at quarterback.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't suit up against Dolphins
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Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku failed to practice throughout the week after sustaining a knee injury during Cleveland's 24-6 loss to the Bengals in Week 16. Jordan Akins will fill in atop the tight end depth chart in what will be Njoku's fifth absence of the season. Njoku will have a chance to return against the Ravens in Week 18, but the Browns have little incentive to rush his return since the team has long been eliminated from postseason contention.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (knee) remained sidelined at practice Friday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
With Njoku on track to log a third straight DNP listing, the tight end is trending in the wrong direction ahead of Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Friday's final injury report will reveal whether he has a chance to play this weekend, but if Njoku is ruled out, Jordan Akins would step into an expanded role Week 17.
