Njoku is a candidate to be moved ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
The Browns are on bye in Week 9, giving the organization a chance to reassess, evaluate and potentially make changes after a 2-6 start to the season. Njoku, 29, stands out as a possible trade chip for the Browns, given that he's in the final year of his contract in addition to the fact that Cleveland has a promising rookie tight end on its roster in Harold Fannin. Njoku is coming off a productive outing in the Browns' Week 8 loss to the Patriots on Sunday, when he caught four of five targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. He notably played eight fewer snaps than Fannin, though the blowout nature of the contest may have been a factor in the Browns' decision to scale back Njoku's playing time.
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Browns' David Njoku: Finds end zone against Pats
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Njoku caught four of five targets for 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 32-13 loss to the Patriots.
After missing last week's game with a knee issue, Njoku returned to action and made a splash with an 11-yard TD catch from Dillon Gabriel in the fourth quarter. The veteran also saw rookie Harold Fannin hit paydirt as well, and the duo have emerged as Gabriel's most reliable options, at the expense of the team's wideouts. Njoku will rest up on the Browns' Week 9 bye before facing the Jets in Week 10.
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Browns' David Njoku: Active for Sunday's game
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Njoku (knee) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
After being inactive for the Browns' Week 7 win over the Dolphins, Njoku logged limited practices Wednesday through Friday before being deemed questionable for Sunday's contest. In his return to action, barring any limitations or in-game setbacks, Njoku should see his share of snaps and targets alongside fellow TE Harold Fannin. Despite missing last weekend's game, Njoku is second on his team with 23 catches (for 223 yards and a touchdown on 36 targets), trailing only Fannin (32 catches on 43 targets for 290 yards and a TD) in that category.
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Browns' David Njoku: Questionable for Week 8
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Njoku (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Patriots, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, coach Kevin Stefanski noted Friday that Njoku has worked very hard while pushing through his injury rehab and has looked like himself in the process. That said, it's possible that the Browns proceed cautiously with the tight end -- who was inactive Week 7 -- while Njoku's Week 8 status is set to be confirmed, either way, ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If Njoku is limited or out versus New England, fellow TE Harold Fannin would remain busy, with Blake Whiteheart also on hand to mix in.
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Browns' David Njoku: Limited in practice again
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Njoku (knee) was limited in practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku has now logged back-to-back limited practices to open Week 8 preparation, with head coach Kevin Stefanski having called the veteran tight end both "day-to-day" and "hopeful" to suit up Sunday on the road against New England. Unless Njoku is able to upgrade full practice activity Friday it sounds as though he'll carry an injury designation into the weekend. He sat out Cleveland's win over the Dolphins in Week 7 due to a knee injury sustained during the team's loss to Pittsburgh in Week 6.
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Browns' David Njoku: Practicing Wednesday
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Njoku (knee) is in line to return to practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku seems to have a fair chance at returning to action Sunday on the road against New England, after coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that he remains "day-to-day." The veteran tight end is recovering from a knee injury sustained Week 6, and he didn't practice at all prior to being ruled out for Week 7. As such, he might need to resume practicing in full before being cleared to return to the lineup.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still day-to-day
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (knee) remains day-to-day, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku missed three straight practices before being ruled out for Cleveland's eventual win over the Dolphins in Week 7. He'll almost certainly need to retake the field as at least a limited participant before returning to the lineup, meaning Njoku's status at practice will have to be monitored ahead of Sunday's road matchup against the Patriots. Rookie Harold Fannin will continue benefiting from an increased workload until Njoku returns to action.
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Browns' David Njoku: Ruled out this week
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Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
With Njoku out, look for fellow TE Harold Fannin to be busy Sunday, with Blake Whiteheart on hand to mix in and Sal Cannella a possible practice-squad elevation for Week 7. Njoku's next chance to see game action will be Sunday, Oct. 26 against the Patriots.
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Browns' David Njoku: Absent from practice again
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Njoku (knee) is not participating in the portion of Thursday's practice open to the media, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Njoku appears to be missing a second consecutive practice due to the knee injury he suffered during Cleveland's loss to the Steelers in Week 6, which bodes poorly for his odds of being able to suit up at home against the Dolphins on Sunday even though the issue isn't considered long-term. Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports that Njoku is one of Cleveland's top candidates to be moved ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline, which could motivate the team to be extra cautious with the tight end's health. If Njoku indeed can't go Week 7, rookie third-round pick Harold Fannin will benefit from increased target opportunities at the tight end position.
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Browns' David Njoku: Missing practice Wednesday
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Njoku (knee) is not slated to practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku is in line to miss Wednesday's practice due to the knee injury that forced him to leave Sunday's 23-9 loss to the Steelers early. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the tight end is "truly day-to-day," per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Njoku will almost certainly need to resume practicing on at least a limited basis Thursday and/or Friday, and if he's unable to suit up in time to face the Dolphins in Week 7, rookie Harold Fannin -- who led the Browns in receptions and yards versus Pittsburgh -- will again benefit from increased target opportunities.
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Browns' David Njoku: Hurts knee Sunday
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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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.
