Njoku (ankle) didn't practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
According to Cabot, Njoku's absence is a planned off day, after he returned to practice Wednesday in a limited fashion after having not taken the field in any capacity since spraining his ankle in the Week 1 loss to the Cowboys. Njoku is expected to return to practice Friday, and the Browns will wait and see on how much activity he's able to handle before a determination is made on his availability for Sunday's game against the Commanders. Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart have been splitting the playing time at tight end during Njoku's absence.
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Browns' David Njoku: Limited in return to practice
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Njoku (ankle) was a limited participant Wednesday in his return to practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Njoku missed the past three games after suffering a high-ankle sprain Week 1 against the Cowboys. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said earlier Wednesday that the Browns will need to see Njoku practice throughout the week before deciding if he's ready to play this Sunday at Washington. An upgrade to full participation Thursday and/or Friday would put Njoku on track to play.
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Browns' David Njoku: Returns to practice
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Njoku (ankle) returned to practice Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku was expected to resume practicing this week, but Stefanski didn't comment on expectations for the tight end for Sunday's game at Washington. With Njoku out the past three weeks, Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart split playing time at tight end.
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Browns' David Njoku: To resume practicing this week
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday he expects Njoku (ankle) to practice this week, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Stefanski declined to state whether he expects Njoku to actually suit up Week 5 against the Commanders, but it's at least encouraging that the athletic tight end is on track to get back on the field. Njoku missed last Friday's practice before being ruled out for a third straight contest, despite having logged a limited session Thursday. Jordan Akins has handled the Browns' starting tight end gig for three consecutive games with Njoku sidelined, securing six of 10 targets for 49 yards and zero touchdowns in that span.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't return this week
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Coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Njoku (ankle) isn't slated to practice Friday and won't play Sunday against the Raiders, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
With Njoku in line to miss his third straight contest, Jordan Akins will continue to lead the Browns' tight end corps versus Las Vegas, while Blake Whiteheart is on hand in reserve. Geoff Swaim and Cameron Latu are possible practice squad elevations. Njoku will target a potential return to action Sunday, Oct. 6 against the Commanders.
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Browns' David Njoku: Returns to practice Thursday
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Njoku (ankle) returned to practice Thursday as a limited participant, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Per Cabot, Njoku was spotted in full uniform in the media-access portion of Thursday's practice and was taking part in individual work, but the Browns seemingly held the tight end out of drills. In any case, Njoku's return to the field in any fashion is a welcome sight after he hadn't practiced since Sept. 6 and missed the last two games due to a high-ankle sprain. A determination on Njoku's status for this Sunday's game in Las Vegas has yet to be made, but he'll likely need to put in a full practice Friday to at the very least avoid taking a designation into the contest.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (ankle) isn't in line to practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku has missed two straight contests due to a high-ankle sprain, and his status for Sunday's game against the Raiders remains uncertain while he continues to sit out practice. That said, Cabot relays that Njoku is expected to get some work in later in the week, offering some hope that he could put an end to his two-game absence Sunday. If, however, Njoku remains out versus Las Vegas, Jordan Akins would continue to lead the Browns' tight-end corps.
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Browns' David Njoku: Uncertain for Week 4
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Coach Kevin Stefanski said, "We'll see," Monday when asked whether Njoku (ankle) will be available Week 4 against the Raiders, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Stefanski said the Browns will have a better idea of Njoku's status Wednesday, the same day the team's first official injury report of Week 4 will be released. The standout tight end has missed back-to-back games due to a high-ankle sprain that he suffered in the Browns' Week 1 loss to the Cowboys, and he hasn't yet managed to resume practicing. Jordan Akins, who caught four of seven targets for 29 yards in Sunday's 21-15 loss to the Giants, has operated as Cleveland's top tight end with Njoku out of commission.
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Browns' David Njoku: Won't play Sunday
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Njoku (ankle) won't play Sunday against the Giants, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku wasn't able to practice this week and thus will miss his second straight game. In the tight end's continued absence, Jordan Akins is in line to see added snaps versus New York, while Cameron Latu, Geoff Swaim and Blake Whiteheart are potential practice-squad elevations ahead of Week 3 action.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (ankle) remained sidelined at Friday's practice, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski told Oyefusi on Friday that Njoku is unlikely to play Sunday against the Giants, so the tight end's continued absence from practice isn't surprising. Friday's injury report will reveal if Njoku heads into the weekend with any chance of suiting up for Week 3 action.
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Browns' David Njoku: Not practicing
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Njoku (ankle) isn't participating in practice Wednesday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
His absence from practice comes as little surprise after head coach Kevin Stefanski said earlier Wednesday that Njoku is unlikely to play Sunday against the Giants. Njoku injured his ankle Week 1 and didn't practice or play Week 2, leaving Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart to rotate at tight end in an 18-13 win over the Jaguars this past Sunday.
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Browns' David Njoku: Not likely to play Sunday
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Njoku (ankle) is unlikely to play Sunday against the Giants, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.
Njoku isn't scheduled to practice Wednesday, but the Browns haven't determined whether he'll be able to mix into drills Thursday or Friday. In any case, Njoku is trending toward missing his second straight game after sitting out the Week 2 win over the Jaguars. If Njoku is unavailable versus the Giants, Jordan Akins would be in line to see added snaps, while Cameron Latu, Geoff Swaim and Blake Whiteheart would be potential practice-squad elevations to bolster the Browns' depth at tight end.
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Browns' David Njoku: Not in line to practice Wednesday
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Njoku (ankle) isn't expected to practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Njoku will have two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Giants. At this stage, head coach Kevin Stefanski hasn't ruled out the possibility of the tight end being available this weekend after having been inactive for the Browns' Week 2 win over the Jaguars.
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Browns' David Njoku: Not ruled out for Week 3
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (ankle), who missed Sunday's 18-13 win over Jacksonville, hasn't yet been ruled out to play Week 3 versus the Giants, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Njoku is considered week-to-week due to an ankle injury sustained Week 1, but the starting tight end could have a chance to return as early as Sunday versus New York at home. Jordan Akins started at tight end Week 2 with Njoku inactive, but he was targeted just once in Cleveland's win over Jacksonville.
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Browns' David Njoku: Labeled week-to-week
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Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (ankle) is week-to-week, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Stefanski declined to confirm whether Njoku suffered a high-ankle sprain during Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, per Petrak, which Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports is the fear for the Pro Bowl tight end. Jordan Akins is currently the only healthy tight end on Cleveland's active roster, though the team also has Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart on the practice squad. Being labeled week-to-week creates serious doubt about Njoku's availability for Sunday's road game in Jacksonville, but the tight end hasn't yet been officially ruled out from playing.
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Browns' David Njoku: Bust Alert (Start/Sit)
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Njoku is still worth using as a low-end starter in most leagues, but he didn't play well with Deshaun Watson last year, which is something to monitor. Njoku scored 6.8 PPR points or less in three of five games with Watson, who is still dealing with shoulder concerns heading into Week 1 against Dallas. The Cowboys also were No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, so this could be a tough game for Njoku if Watson is limited in any way.
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Browns' David Njoku: Healthy heading into Week 1
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Njoku (undisclosed) wasn't listed on Cleveland's injury report Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Njoku practiced without limitations and should be good to go for Sunday's season opener against the Cowboys. The 28-year-old tight end set career highs with 882 receiving yards and six touchdowns in 2023, but most of that production came with quarterbacks other than Deshaun Watson, who is set to reprise the starting role under center after having recovered from a shoulder injury.
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Browns' David Njoku: In line to practice Tuesday
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Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (undisclosed) will practice Tuesday, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Njoku has been kept off the practice field since mid-August due to soreness, and he also missed Cleveland's preseason finale Saturday. If the standout tight end is indeed able to get back on the practice field Tuesday, it will assuage most concerns about his Week 1 availability. Njoku still has nearly two weeks to get fully healthy before the Browns' regular-season opener against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 8.
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Browns' David Njoku: Remains sidelined
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Njoku (undisclosed) didn't practice Wednesday, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Given that Njoku hasn't practiced since Aug. 15, it seems unlikely that he'll see action in the Browns' preseason finale against the Seahawks on Saturday. If that's the case, the focus of the team's top TE will then pivot to preparing for a Week 1 matchup against the Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 8.
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Browns' David Njoku: Still not practicing
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Njoku (undisclosed) is not practicing Tuesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Njoku hasn't returned to practice since exiting last Thursday's joint session with the Vikings early due to what was called soreness. Top wide receiver Amari Cooper (undisclosed) is also not available Tuesday, despite early indications that he was in line to return. Saturday's road exhibition matchup against the Seahawks will be Njoku's final chance to log preseason reps prior to Cleveland's regular-season opener against the Cowboys.