Tag: Njoku

Oct 6, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) during the second quarter at NorthWest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Browns TE David Njoku, CB Denzel Ward to have MRIs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku, who returned Sunday after missing three games with an ankle sprain, will have an MRI after injuring his knee in the loss to the Washington Commanders.

Njoku, 28, had one catch for 14 yards before suffering the injury. The Browns’ 2017 first-round pick (29th overall) has five catches for 58 yards in two games this season. The eight-year veteran, a Pro Bowl selection last year, has 292 catches for 3,322 yards and 25 touchdowns in 97 games (68 starts).

Starting cornerback Denzel Ward (hamstring) and starting center Ethan Pocic (knee) will also undergo MRIs, per Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.

Ward, 27, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the NFL with nine pass breakups this season and has eight tackles in five games.

In his seventh season since Cleveland drafted him No. 4 overall in 2018, Ward has 15 interceptions (including two for touchdowns), 85 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries (including two for touchdowns) and 281 tackles in 84 games (81 starts).

Pocic, 29, has started 73 of his 90 games since the Seattle Seahawks selected him in the second round of the 2017 draft.

–Field Level Media

Sep 22, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; New York Giants defensive tackle Elijah Chatman (94) sacks Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns rule out starting OTs, TE David Njoku

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Three starting offensive linemen are not available for the Cleveland Browns when they visit the Las Vegas Raiders.

Left tackle Jedrick Willis, right tackle Jack Conklin and tight end David Njoku were ruled out by Browns coach Kevin Stefanski on Friday, days after right guard Wyatt Teller was placed on injured reserve with a sprained knee.

Willis has a knee injury and Conklin, a two-time All-Pro, was close to returning from a 2023 knee injury for the first time before a minor hamstring injury prompted the Browns to hold him out.

Njoku is out for the third straight game with an ankle sprain. He hasn’t played since Week 1 and attempted to get back on the practice field Thursday before missing Friday’s session.

Rookie third-round pick Zak Zinter replaced Teller last week in the loss to the New York Giants, when Willis re-injured the same knee that required surgery in December.

Protection is a pressing concern as Cleveland (1-2) rolls the dice with multiple backups at Las Vegas.

Quarterback Deshaun Watson has been sacked a league-worst 16 times in three games with two interceptions and two lost fumbles. Watson has been hit 42 times.

Stefanski said he’s not ready to disclose lineup changes and would take until Sunday to determine the ideal alignment in front of Watson.

Veteran tackle Germain Ifedi was signed to the active roster from the practice squad this week.

–Field Level Media

Aug 5, 2024; Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during practice at the Browns training facility in Berea, Ohio. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Browns holding TE auditions after David Njoku injury

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Cleveland Browns plan to audition several free agent tight ends on Tuesday with David Njoku expected to miss multiple games with a high ankle sprain, ESPN reported.

Irv Smith, Tommy Sweeney and Geoff Swaim are among the candidates reportedly heading to Cleveland for interviews and workouts.

Njoku, 28, was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s season-opening 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The 2023 Pro Bowl selection finished with four catches for 44 yards.

Veteran Jordan Akins, 32, is the only other tight end on the Browns’ depth chart. He had three catches for 27 yards against the Cowboys, raising his career totals to 169 receptions for 1,914 yards and eight touchdowns in 91 games (30 starts) with the Houston Texans (2018-22) and Browns.

Smith, 26, has 109 catches for 973 yards and 10 TDs in 49 games (21 starts) with the Minnesota Vikings (2019-20, 2022) and Cincinnati Bengals (2023). He was a second-round pick by Minnesota in 2019.

Sweeney, 29, was a seventh-round pick by Buffalo in 2019 and caught 18 passes for 165 yards and one score in 24 games (four starts) with the Bills (2019, 2021-22).

Swaim, 30, was a seventh-round selection by Dallas in 2015 and has 110 receptions for 846 yards and six TDs in 100 games (65 starts) with the Cowboys (2015-18), Jacksonville Jaguars (2019), Tennessee Titans (2020-22) and Arizona Cardinals (2023).

–Field Level Media