The Chargers placed Njoku (fibula) on injured reserve Wednesday.
Njoku will be sidelined for at least the Chargers' next four games after sustaining a fibula injury in Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders. Fellow tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) was able to avoid placement on IR but has already been ruled out for the Chargers' Week 3 contest in Buffalo, leaving Oronde Gadsden as the top option on the depth chart heading into that game.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Set to go on IR
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Head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that Njoku will be placed on injured reserve due to a fibula injury, Kris Rhim of ESPN.com reports.
Charlie Kolar (forearm) is also expected to land on IR after both he and Njoku sustained injuries during Sunday's 26-14 loss to the Raiders, with the latter being carted off the field during the second quarter. Njoku is without an official timeline to return, though he won't be eligible to come off IR any earlier than the Chargers' Week 8 matchup with the Rams on Nov. 1. For the time being, second-year pro Oronde Gadsden, who posted a 49-664-3 line on 69 targets across 15 games in 2025, is the only healthy tight end on the Chargers' 53-man roster.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Ruled out Sunday
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Njoku (knee) won't return to Sunday's game against the Raiders.
Njoku was carted off the field in the second quarter due to a knee injury, which initially left him questionable to reenter this Week 2 contest. Now that he's ruled out, he'll end it with one catch (on three targets) for nine yards. Charlie Kolar and Oronde Gadsden will man tight end for the rest of Sunday's outing.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Sleeper TEs
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If Ladd McConkey (ribs) is out for Week 2 against Las Vegas, then Njoku is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues. Njoku was the top tight end for the Chargers in Week 1 against the Cardinals with five catches for 58 yards on five targets. We'll see if that continues, especially with Oronde Gadsden II (two catches for 32 yards on two targets) and Charlie Kolar (no targets), still a factor, but Njoku is a good flier against the Raiders if McConkey can't play.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Brings in all five targets in Week 1 loss
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Njoku caught five passes on as many targets for 58 yards during the Chargers' 26-14 loss to the Cardinals on Sunday.
Njoku's 30 snaps on offense were tied with Charlie Kolar for most among Chargers tight ends, yet it was the former that was more heavily involved in the passing game, co-leading the team in catches while finishing second in both targets and yards behind wideout Ladd McConkey (ribs). Four of Njoku's five catches went for 10-plus yards, with three of those receptions resulting in first downs. Njoku's role in the Chargers' passing attack could expand for Week 2 against the Raiders this Sunday if McConkey isn't cleared to play.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Wraps up exhibition slate with limited work
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Njoku logged three offensive snaps in Thursday's preseason loss to the Rams and didn't register any statistical output.
Njoku worked behind starter Charlie Kolar and ahead of Oronde Gadsden in the contest. During the exhibition slate, Kolar and starting QB Justin Herbert were on the field together for six snaps, while Njoku logged five snaps with Herbert and Gadsden registered just one. That could be an indication of the pecking order during the regular season as well, as Kolar is considered the superior blocker of the trio and Gadsden the top pass catcher, with Njoku being competent in both areas.
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Chargers' David Njoku: Makes preseason start in two-TE set
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Njoku and Charlie Kolar both started Thursday's preseason game against San Francisco. Njoku finished with no targets on five snaps.
They're also listed as co-starters on the preseason depth chart, ahead of pass-catching specialist Oronde Gadsden. It's no secret that offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel puts a premium on TE blocking, and while Njoku has never been considered a standout in that regard, he's at least got a leg up on Gadsden. We'll still need to wait for the regular season to truly understand how McDaniel wants to deploy his tight ends (and FB Alec Ingold).
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David Njoku: Getting look from Bolts
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Njoku will visit the Chargers on Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Njoku entered free agency after the Browns cut the veteran tight end in mid-March. He has yet to catch on with another team, but that could change following his visit with the Chargers. Oronde Gadsden emerged as the Chargers' top tight end last season and the team inked Charlie Kolar to a three-year deal in early March, but adding Njoku would give the Bolts another playmaking pass catcher that Justin Herbert could rely on in the passing game. Njoku has struggled with injuries over the past couple of seasons but has been productive when on the field. He finished the 2025 regular season with 33 catches (on 48 targets) for 293 yards and four touchdowns across 12 games.
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Browns' David Njoku: Suggests time in Cleveland is up
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Njoku (knee) posted on his Instagram account Monday that it is time for him "to find a new home," Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku just completed his ninth season with the Browns, posting a 33-293-4 line on 48 targets over 12 games. His catch, yardage and target totals were his lowest since 2020, due in part to injury (he missed five contests, including the final four of the season) but even more so because of the emergence of rookie TE Harold Fannin (groin). Njoku's contract is scheduled to void upon the start of the 2026 league year, and it sounds like the veteran out of Bowling Green won't be returning to Cleveland. Given the increasing importance of tight ends around the league, though, Njoku could still have multiple suitors in free agency.
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Browns' David Njoku: Officially ruled out for finale
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Njoku (knee/personal) has been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku being ruled out for Week 18 is no surprise, given that the last time he practiced or played was Week 14. He wraps the 2025 campaign with 12 regular-season appearances, in which span he secured 33 of 48 targets for 293 yards and four touchdowns, as his production dipped due to the emergence of rookie tight end Harold Fannin (groin), who also is ruled out for Sunday's game. That leaves Blake Whiteheart, Brenden Bates and practice-squad player Sal Cannella in position to man the Browns' tight end corps versus Cincinnati. Njoku is set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, assuming the Browns allow his contract to void Feb. 10.
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Browns' David Njoku: Absent from practice again
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Njoku (knee/personal) is not participating in the portion of Friday's practice open to the media, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku hasn't played or practiced since Week 14, and it appears he'll also miss Cleveland's season finale against the Bengals on Sunday. The emergence of rookie Harold Fannin (groin), who also isn't practicing Friday, caused Njoku's opportunities in the receiving game to decline, and it appears he'll finish the 2025 campaign with a 33-293-4 line (on 48 targets) across 12 regular-season appearances. Njoku is set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, assuming the Browns allow his contract to void Feb. 10, and the 29-year-old tight end should have little issue finding an opportunity elsewhere in the league. He compiled three straight seasons with over 500 receiving yards from 2022-24.
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Browns' David Njoku: Will not practice Wednesday
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Njoku (knee/personal) will not practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku hasn't played since Week 14 and seems unlikely to return for the regular-season finale against the Bengals. Across 12 appearances this season, Njoku has recorded just 33 catches for 293 yards and four touchdowns on 48 targets. Njoku's 24.4 yards per game are his fewest since 2020.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't return Week 17
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Njoku (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against Pittsburgh, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku is going to miss his third straight game due to a lingering knee injury. The veteran tight end didn't practice at all this week, so he may be facing a challenge to return in time for Cleveland's season finale Week 18 against Cincinnati. Browns No. 1 tight end Harold Fannin is questionable to play this Sunday due to a groin issue, and if he can't suit up, it would likely fall on Blake Whiteheart and possibly Brenden Bates (ankle) to lead the team's tight-end corps.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (knee) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku -- who also logged 'DNP' listings Wednesday and Thursday -- thus appears to be trending toward being sidelined Sunday against the Steelers. If that ends up being the case, Harold Fannin would continue to lead the Browns' TE corps Week 17, with Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates (ankle) also in the mix.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't play against the Bills
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Njoku (knee) won't play Sunday against the Bills, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku, who didn't practice this week, thus is slated to miss his second straight contest, with his next chance to see game action set to arrive Sunday, Dec. 28 against the Steelers. In Njoku's continued absence, fellow TE Harold Fannin -- who logged seven catches on a team-high 14 targets for 48 yards in Week 15 -- figures to remain busy versus Buffalo, with Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates (ankle) candidates to mix in.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (knee) wasn't spotted at practice Friday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
With Njoku poised to log three consecutive 'DNPs' this week, the tight end appears to be trending toward being sidelined Sunday against the Bills. Njoku's absence in the Browns' 31-3 loss to the Bears in Week 15 helped pave the way for fellow TE Harold Fannin to record seven catches on a team-high 14 targets for 48 yards.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't practice Wednesday
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Njoku (knee) is not in line to practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Njoku wasn't able to practice prior to being ruled out for Cleveland's loss to the Bears in Week 15, but Stefanski indicated he and the rest of the Browns' injured players are "trending in the right direction" for Sunday's contest against Buffalo, per Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. If Njoku manages to gain clearance in time to return to action Week 16, he'll resume operating as the No. 2 tight end behind rookie Harold Fannin.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (knee) remained sidelined at practice Thursday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku also managed a knee injury ahead of Week 14 action, but now that the tight end is set to log back-to-back 'DNPs' this time around, what he does (if anything) at practice Friday will loom large in terms of his status for Sunday's game against the Bears. If Njoku is out or limited this weekend, Blake Whiteheart would be in line to see added TE snaps behind Harold Fannin.
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Browns' David Njoku: Not practicing Wednesday
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Njoku (knee) is not in line to practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku suffered a knee injury during Cleveland's loss to the Titans in Week 14 on the play that saw him secure his only target for a one-yard touchdown catch. Now, his status appears up in the air for Sunday's game against the Bears. Rookie Harold Fannin will benefit from increased opportunities as the Browns' starting tight end if Njoku misses any time.
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Browns' David Njoku: Hurts knee on TD catch
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Njoku injured his knee during Sunday's contest against the Titans, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Per the report, Njoku sustained the injury on a one-yard touchdown catch with 14:24 remaining in the second quarter. Njoku then went directly to the locker room, and while he subsequently returned to the sideline, the tight end didn't immediately return to the game, per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram. Look for added context once the Browns provide injury updates after Sunday's game, but it's worth noting that Njoku was managing a knee issue during practice this past week.
