85 David Njoku TE

Njoku caught four of five targets for 59 yards in Sunday's 22-17 playoff loss to the Chiefs.

Njoku rarely got this kind of usage during the regular season when Cleveland's top three tight ends were available, so his activity against Kansas City was a surprise. He caught 19 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns over 13 games, well off a breakout 2018 when he had 56-239-4. Njoku has one year remaining on his contract, but he yearns for a bigger role like he had 2018. Austin Hooper is the clear leader at the position for Cleveland, so Njoku will have to accept a similar role in 2021, sharing snaps with Harrison Bryant behind Hooper in an offense that uses multiple tight ends often.

Njoku (hamstring) is listed as active Sunday at Kansas City, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Njoku managed just one limited practice this week (Friday), but it was enough to allow him to play through a hamstring injury. The Browns will roll with Austin Hooper for a majority of the offensive snaps Sunday, with Njoku and rookie fourth-round pick Harrison Bryant the options to take the field in two-TE sets. Njoku put up a measly 19-213-2 line on 29 targets during 13 regular-season appearances.

Njoku (hamstring), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round game against the Chiefs, is expected to play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Confirmation on Njoku's availability is expected to arrive around 1:35 p.m. ET, when the Browns are slated to release their inactive list 90 minutes in advance of the game's kickoff. The Browns have consistently made use of three tight ends this season, but Njoku and Harrison Bryant both took a back seat to No. 1 option Austin Hooper in the wild-card win over the Steelers. Hooper played 90 percent of the offensive snaps in the victory and tallied seven receptions for 46 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets, while Bryant and Njoku combined for one target and played 33 and 31 percent of the snaps, respectively.

Njoku (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional-round playoff game against Kansas City, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Njoku, who logged back-to-back DNPs Wednesday and Thursday, returned to a limited session Friday, which gives him a chance to suit up this weekend. However, with Austin Hooper clearly the Browns' top pass-catching tight end and Harrison Bryant also in the mix, Njoku isn't a high-percentage fantasy option these days.

Njoku (hamstring) won't practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Back-to-back absences suggest the tight end is in some danger of missing Sunday's game at Kansas City. It wouldn't be too big a loss for the Cleveland offense, as Njoku played only 31 percent of snaps in the team's wild-card win over Pittsburgh, catching one pass for seven yards. Austin Hooper logged 90 percent of snaps and a team-high 11 targets, while rookie Harrison Bryant got 33 percent of snaps and zero targets. Bryant would be the favorite to pick up most of Njoku's vacated snaps.

Njoku (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

While the extent and cause of Njoku's hamstring injury is unknown, he was unable to practice Wednesday. The tight end played in the wild-card win over Pittsburgh, where he caught his lone target for seven yards.

Njoku caught his lone target for seven yards in Sunday's 48-37 wild-card win over Pittsburgh.

Njoku entered the game with an uptick in usage, having been targeted nine times between Weeks 16 and 17, but he was of little significance in the game plan Sunday. The return of Harrison Bryant contributed to Njoku's reduced usage, as did quarterback Baker Mayfield's continued reliance on primary tight end Austin Hooper, who received 11 looks in the win. Njoku and the Browns head to the AFC divisional round next Sunday to play the Chiefs, whose defense ceded the 28th-most yards to opposing tight ends (59.6 YPG) during the regular season.

Njoku caught two of a season-high five targets for 13 yards in Sunday's 24-22 win over the Steelers.

Njoku got extra attention Sunday -- including a pair of red-zone targets -- as Harrison Bryant (reserve/COVID-19) was unavailable for duty. It's rare that Njoku is on par with starter Austin Hooper, who also was targeted five times in the game that clinched a postseason berth for Cleveland. Bryant was first deemed a close contact of a person with the virus, but further testing revealed he also contracted it, which makes his status unclear heading into the wild-card round next weekend against Pittsburgh. If Bryant's not ready to go by then, Njoku will pick up additional playing time.

Njoku caught four of four targets for 26 yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Jets.

Njoku and the rest of the tight ends carried a larger share of targets with Cleveland's top four wideouts unavailable after being placed on the COVID-19 list. The Jets shut down the Browns' vaunted running attack, forcing quarterback Baker Mayfield to throw a season-high 53 times, including 26 targets to tight ends. The wideouts, who are considered close contacts of a teammate that tested positive for the virus, could return in time to practice and be ready for Week 17 against the Steelers.

Njoku caught his lone target for 22 yards during Sunday's win over the Giants.

The 24-year-old played 48 percent of the offensive snaps but didn't find much involvement in the passing game. Njoku should continue to split time at tight end with Harrison Bryant and a now-healthy Austin Hooper (neck).

Njoku (knee) is active for Sunday night's game against the Giants, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

A sudden practice absence Friday placed Njoku's Week 15 status in question, but coach Kevin Stefanski alleviated concerns by subsequently stating that he expected the 24-year-old to play. Having since supported his coach's intuition by clearing the injury report in time for kickoff, Njoku will look to build on a three-catch, 45-yard Week 14 performance against the Ravens. He'll get work at the tight end position alongside Harrison Bryant and Austin Hooper, the latter of whom gained clearance to play Sunday evening after being limited during the week with a neck injury.

The Browns list Njoku as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants due to a knee injury, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.

Njoku didn't appear on either of the Browns' first two Week 15 practice reports, but he was added Friday after the knee issue kept him out of the team session. Fortunately, Njoku isn't believed to be dealing with any significant setback, as head coach Kevin Stefanski said after practice that he expects the 24-year-old to suit up this weekend, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Meanwhile, top tight end Austin Hooper (neck) is also listed as questionable, so Njoku and Harrison Bryant could take on more snaps in the event Hooper is limited at all or ultimately forced to miss a second straight game.

Njoku caught three of a season-high four targets for 45 yards in Monday's 47-42 loss to Baltimore.

Njoku was bumped up the depth chart along with Harrison Bryant as Austin Hooper (neck) was inactive. The Browns threw more than usual Monday, and the tight end position combined for 10 targets, the most for the group since Week 7 against Pittsburgh. When all three tight ends are healthy, a typical week has Hooper gobbling up the majority of snaps and targets. His neck injury is not considered serious, so he could return Week 15 against the Giants on Sunday night.

Njoku caught his lone target for five yards in Sunday's 41-35 win over Tennessee.

Njoku, who had one of three tight end targets Sunday, has been targeted just twice over the last four games. His involvement in the offense has taken a hit since Austin Hooper returned from an appendectomy, with Sunday's reception being his first since Week 8. The Browns face the Ravens in Week 14, an opponent that ranks 21st in yards allowed per game to tight ends, but if there's a Cleveland tight to consider, it's Hooper and not Njoku.

Njoku played 40 snaps and was not targeted in Sunday's 27-25 win over Jacksonville.

Njoku, who has not caught a pass since Week 8, went untargeted for the second time in the last three weeks. He and Harrison Bryant have become afterthoughts, combining for just three targets in the last three games while starter Austin Hooper had nine. The return of Nick Chubb has turned Cleveland into a run-heavy team and squeezed targeting opportunities for the entire tight end position group.

Njoku failed to catch his lone target in Sunday's 22-17 win over Philadelphia.

Njoku had an uptick in his snap count (34, 51 percent), as he and fellow tight end Harrison Bryant (39, 58 percent) helped cover for the loss of fullback Andy Janovich, but the duo combined for only one target. For the past two games, Cleveland has run the ball nearly twice as much as it has thrown it, which has shrunk the targets for all receivers. Lead tight end Austin Hooper had seven of the eight tight-end targets in those two games. Additionally, quarterback Baker Mayfield has not thrown a touchdown pass since Week 7, so Cleveland receivers need to build up yards to have any fantasy value.

Njoku was not targeted in Sunday's 10-7 win over Houston.

Cleveland tight ends were targeted only twice on a weather-impacted day on the shores of Lake Erie, and both went to lead tight end Austin Hooper. Neither Njoku nor Harrison Bryant were given any looks on a day when the Browns stuck to their strength and ran twice as much they threw the ball. That trend should continue as the weather gets colder, which could limit targets for all receivers. Njoku has just 13 targets over six games, resulting in eight catches, 102 yards and two touchdowns.

Njoku, who told the Browns he would like to be traded ahead of Tuesday's trade deadline, ultimately stayed put in Cleveland, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku first requested a trade in July before rescinding the demand in August, but he since told Cabot in October that he would be open to a change of scenery. The Browns had no intention of trading him, however, and no serious discussions with other teams occurred prior to the deadline. Instead of potentially becoming a lead tight end with another team, Njoku remains part of the three-man rotation that includes Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant. Njoku, who has missed three games with a sprained knee, has eight catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns with only one drop on the campaign.

Njoku caught one of three targets for 19 yards in Sunday's 16-6 loss to the Raiders.

Njoku, like many Browns' receivers, was hindered by the conditions of the day, which featured 35-plus MPH shifting winds that made moving the ball via the air challenging. For the second week in a row without Austin Hooper (appendix), Njoku (29 snaps) finished behind rookie Harrison Bryant (39) in snap count. Njoku has made his desire to be traded clear, but the Browns are reticent to pull the trigger, preferring to keep him around as part of team's three-man rotation at tight end. Without a deal by the Nov. 3 deadline, Njoku could drop to No. 3 on the depth chart in terms of usage. Hooper is expected to return in Week 10 after the Browns' bye this coming week.

Njoku caught two of three targets for 20 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 37-34 win over the Bengals.

With Austin Hooper (appendectomy) sidelined, both Njoku and Harrison Bryant were in the starting lineup and each had an impact. Njoku caught the first of three go-ahead scores during a wild, fourth-quarter shootout in Cincinnati, while Bryant scored twice earlier in the game. Njoku, who requested a trade by the Nov. 3 deadline, wants to be a lead tight end somewhere, but the Browns want him around for depth and to be part of an offense that often deploys multiple tight ends. At this point, the team is unwilling to part with him. The Browns have one more game before the trade deadline -- Week 8 against the Raiders -- so they will at least hold onto him through that game. With Hooper expected to return Week 10 after Cleveland's bye, Njoku would return to a backup role, competing with Bryant for snaps behind Hooper.