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: Remains sidelined Thursday
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Njoku (knee/personal) is not practicing Thursday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku continues to miss practice due to a knee injury that has kept him from suiting up since Week 14. The veteran tight end will have a final chance to resume practicing Friday, but at this stage Njoku seems unlikely to be on the field for Cleveland during Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bengals. Rookie tight end Harold Fannin (groin) is also not practicing Thursday.
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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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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
Rotowire
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.
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Browns' David Njoku: Another limited practice
Rotowire
Njoku (knee) remained limited at practice Thursday.
Njoku, who also was limited Wednesday, was limited last Wednesday and Thursday before practicing fully Friday and heading into Week 13 without an injury designation. Chances are that cadence is repeated ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans.
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Browns' David Njoku: Logs limited practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Njoku (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Njoku, who continues to manage a knee issue, was also limited this past Wednesday and Thursday before practicing fully Friday and approaching Week 13 action without an injury designation. A similar pattern could be on tap for the tight end ahead of Sunday's game against the Titans.
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Browns' David Njoku: Two catches in Week 13 loss
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Njoku caught both of his targets for four yards in the Browns' 26-8 loss to the 49ers on Sunday.
Njoku has taken a clear back seat to rookie TE Harold Fannin in recent weeks, and Fannin actually paced the Browns in targets (five), catches (three) and yards (43) against San Francisco while securing a 34-yard touchdown from Shedeur Sanders. Njoku isn't much more than waiver-wire fodder outside of deep fantasy leagues.
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Browns' David Njoku: Remains limited
Rotowire
Njoku (knee) was limited at Thursday's practice.
Njoku opens the week of preparation for Sunday's tilt against San Francisco with two limited practices. It's the second consecutive week that the knee has limited the tight end, who was given a season-low 25 snaps in Week 12's win over the Raiders. It's unclear if last week's knee issue led to curtailed playing time, or if the Browns are developing Harold Fannin to become the club's lead TE.
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Browns' David Njoku: TEs to Sit
Rotowire
Njoku played a season-low 25 snaps in Week 12 at Las Vegas and had no targets in the first game with Shedeur Sanders. But he also has just three catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on four targets in his past three games overall. There's little reason to trust Njoku in the majority of leagues if the Browns are going to phase him out of the offense, and he should not be started in Week 13 against the 49ers.
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Browns' David Njoku: Limited at practice Wednesday
Rotowire
Njoku (knee) was limited at practice Wednesday.
Njoku continues to manage a knee issue, but as long as he's able to practice fully by Friday he'll be on track to approach Sunday's game against the 49ers without an injury designation. With just one catch (on two targets) over his last two games, a span in which fellow TE Harold Fannin has combined for six catches on 11 targets, Njoku profiles as a hit-or-miss Week 13 fantasy lineup option.
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Browns' David Njoku: Season-low snap count
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Njoku went untargeted over 25 snaps in Sunday's 24-10 win over Las Vegas in Week 12.
For the second straight game, Njoku was on the field for fewer snaps than rookie tight end Harold Fannin (46), but this time the disparity was far more pronounced than it was last week. The only other game in which the veteran tight end was outplayed by Fannin to this degree was when Njoku suffered an injury in a Week 6 loss to Pittsburgh. Since the club's Week 9 bye, Njoku has just three receptions on four targets for 28 yards over three games, but he still leads the club with three TD catches for the season. Cleveland's anemic passing offense, which was slightly improved under Shedeur Sanders on Sunday, still relies on a lot of short throws, which benefits both TEs.
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Browns' David Njoku: Cleared for Week 12
Rotowire
Njoku (knee) won't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday as he manages a knee issue, but the tight end's return to Friday's session paves the way for him to play versus Las Vegas this weekend. In the process, he'll remain a key target alongside fellow TE Harold Fannin, as well as WRs Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, in a Week 12 offense that will be helmed by Shedeur Sanders, who is making his first career regular-season start at QB with Dillon Gabriel (concussion) out.
