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

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

Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) catches a pass for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Minnesota Vikings and sets an NFL record for most catches by a rookie tight end at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports

Lions’ Sam LaPorta sets TE rookie record for catches

Detroit Lions rookie tight end Sam LaPorta set an NFL record when he reeled in a touchdown reception in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the visiting Minnesota Vikings.

LaPorta’s 2-yard catch served as his 82nd reception of the season, eclipsing a tie with Keith Jackson (81 in 1988) for the most grabs by a rookie tight end.

His 10th touchdown catch of the season moved him into a tie with Rob Gronkowski (10 in 2010) for second place among rookie tight ends, leaving him behind only Hall of Fame member Mike Ditka (12 in 1961).

LaPorta, who turns 23 on Friday, was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft out of Iowa.

–Field Level Media

New York Giants offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens in the first half. The Giants defeat the Eagles, 13-7, at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2021, in East Rutherford.

Nyg Vs Phi

Reports: UNC hires Freddie Kitchens as TE coach

Former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens is joining North Carolina as tight ends coach, multiple outlets reported Monday.

He worked as a senior football analyst for South Carolina in the 2022 season, and he’ll be able to give Tar Heels head coach Mack Brown some insight about the Gamecocks. The two teams are set to open their 2023 seasons on Sept. 2 in Charlotte.

Kitchens spent 15 seasons in the NFL, beginning as tight ends coach with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. He coached tight ends for the Cardinals for the next six seasons, then spent five more seasons with Arizona in other coaching roles before joining the Browns in 2018, being elevated to offensive coordinator that season.

The Browns named him head coach in 2019 and fired him at the end of a 6-10 season.

He spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the New York Giants.

At North Carolina, Kitchens will replace John Lilly, who was named the tight ends coach with the Carolina Panthers.

–Field Level Media

NFL-Week-11-Stat-Recap-Table-QB-RB-and-WR

NFL Week 11 Stat Recap Table: QB, RB and WR

Big Ben leads a comeback over the Jaguars. The Saints continue to roll. Monday night featured an action-packed offensive showing between the Rams and the Chiefs

  • Patrick Mahomes and Jared Goff combine for 64 completions, 893 yards, and 10 touchdowns.
  • 4 quarterbacks threw 3 interceptions
  • Tyreek Hill made 10 receptions for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns
  • 6 Players with 100+ rushing yards
  • Saquon Barkley, Mark Ingram II, Adrian Peterson, and Phillip Lindsay all rush for 2 touchdowns

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