85 David Njoku TE

Njoku said Thursday that he's cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and has turned his focus exclusively to rehabbing his fractured wrist, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku sustained the two injuries on a hard hit from the Jets' Nate Hairston on Sept. 16, resulting in his placement on injured reserve four days later. The tight end was able to avoid surgery to address the wrist issue, keeping hope alive for him to return later this season if he hits no unexpected snags in his rehab. The Browns won't be able to bring him back from IR until at least their Nov. 24 game against the Dolphins in Week 12.

Njoku (concussion) won't have surgery on his broken wrist, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

If Njoku had elected to undergo surgery, he'd be unlikely to return at any point this season. However, it's now apparent that won't be the case, which gives the tight end a chance to return by Week 12, at the earliest. In the meantime, Demetrius Harris will likely serve as Cleveland's top tight end.

With Njoku (wrist) having been placed on IR on Friday, the first game he'd be eligible to play in would be Nov. 24 against the Dolphins, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

It remains to be seen if the tight end will need wrist surgery, with Ulrich suggestion that option is still being considered, while Ian Rapoport of NFL Network has indicated that the tight end will avoid a procedure. For now, it seems like Njoku is a candidate to come back later this season, but those inclined to stash him on fantasy rosters must know that a Week 12 return represents the best-case scenario for the 2017 first-rounder.

The Browns have placed Njoku (wrist) on IR, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

With Njoku having suffered a broken wrist, the Browns will send the tight end to IR, meaning that he must miss at least eight games before a potential designated-to-return scenario can come into play. In his absence, the team's tight end corps will feature Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones.

Njoku suffered a broken wrist Monday night against the Jets, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

As a result, the tight end is expected to miss at least a month, and possibly more if he needs surgery. Next up for the team's tight end looks while Njoku is out are Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones.

Njoku, who is dealing with a concussion, also suffered a wrist injury Monday night against the Jets, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Per the report, Njoku is seeking additional medical opinions at this stage, but he may need to undergo surgery to address the issue. His status for Sunday's game against the Rams, at a minimum, is thus cloudy. Next up for the team's tight end looks in the event that Njoku misses time are Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones.

Njoku (concussion) isn't practicing Wednesday, Pat McManamon of The Athletic reports.

This was a foregone conclusion after the tight end suffered a concussion early in Monday's 23-3 win over the Jets. If Njoku can't clear the protocol ahead of Sunday's game against Los Angeles, the Browns would turn to Demetrius Harris as their top tight end.

Njoku has been ruled out for the remainder of Monday's game against the Jets with a concussion, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones are slated to fill in for Njoku at tight end. The former first-round pick will need to clear the concussion protocol in order to play against the Rams in Week 3.

Njoku is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Jets while being evaluated for a concussion, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Njoku took a hard fall in the first quarter and appeared to be shaken up. If he is unable to return to Monday's game, look for some combination of Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones to step in for the Browns at tight end.

Njoku entered the locker room with medical staff during the first quarter of Monday's game against the Jets, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku attempted to make a catch on the Browns' second drive and was upended, resulting in an awkward fall on his head and neck. Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown and Ricky Seals-Jones are slotted to compensate for Njoku's absence as long as he is out.

Njoku caught four of six targets for 37 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 43-13 loss to the Titans.

Njoku scored a three-yard touchdown in the third quarter to cap one of two successful Browns drives in an otherwise ugly performance from the home team. After scoring four touchdowns in each of his first two NFL seasons, Njoku is hoping to establish himself as a greater threat near the goal line with opposing defenses also needing to focus on Odell Beckham, Nick Chubb and Jarvis Landry. The tight end will hope to build on this trip to the end zone in Week 2 against the Jets.

Njoku (knee) participated in team drills Monday, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Additionally, Njoku was able to don his helmet Monday, a sign that the stitches on the back of his head are no longer an issue. Njoku, along with Cleveland's other key skill players, is presumably on track to sit out the team's preseason finale, but the tight end now has ample time to prepare for Week 1. The 2017 first-rounder is set to serve as the Browns' top tight end and will look to build off the 56-639-4 stat line he logged in 2018. With ascending QB Baker Mayfield throwing to him, Njoku could see an uptick in overall production in his third NFL campaign, but dependable volume could prove elusive, with wideouts Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry in line to gobble up plenty of targets.

Njoku (knee/head) still wasn't wearing a helmet in pregame warmups against the Buccaneers on Friday, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku has been unable to wear a helmet this week due to stitches on the back of his head, and that's still the case here, which means he won't be able to participate in this third preseason tilt. On the bright side, his ability to participate in warmups suggests the tight end's knee injury is no longer much of a factor.

Coach Freddie Kitchens relayed that Njoku (knee) didn't have a helmet at Monday's practice because of stitches on the back of his head, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Meanwhile, Njoku was able to do individual drills Monday, with the report adding that the tight end's knee is feeling better. There's been nothing to suggest that Njoku's Week 1 status is in any danger, but his availability for Friday's preseason game against the Bucs has yet to be clarified.

Njoku (knee) is going through individual drills Monday without a helmet, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

He may not be ready for full participation, but this at least shows that Njoku is making progress. He was held out of Saturday's preseason win over Indianapolis and could miss another exhibition Friday against Tampa Bay. The 23-year-old is locked in as a starter, with offseason acquisition Demetrius Harris expected to occupy the No. 2 spot at tight end.

Njoku (knee) didn't play in Saturday's preseason game against Indianapolis.

Njoku got the start in Cleveland's preseason opener, playing seven snaps without any targets. There hasn't been any indication that the knee injury holding him out of practice poses a threat to his Week 1 availability.

Njoku was held out of Monday's practice with a knee injury, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

The injury doesn't appear serious at first glance, considering Njoku was able to work out on a side field with injured teammates. He started last week's preseason game against Washington, finishing without a target on seven snaps.

Njoku (undisclosed) is working on a side field with the rehab group at Monday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

This is the first report of any injury for Cleveland's starting tight end. The team has been shorthanded at the position, with Demetrius Harris and Seth DeValve both recovering from concussions during the early portion of training camp, so a lengthy absence by Njoku could have the Browns scrounging through the free-agent pool for depth.

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield has high hopes for Njoku in 2019, Steve Doerschuk of The Canton Repository reports. "The sky is the limit for [Njoku]," said Mayfield. "He hasn't had a lot of coaching and hasn't been playing that long. You can see how athletic he is, how talented."

There's no shortage of target competition in Cleveland, but the wealth of talent should also create more touchdowns to go around compared to Njoku's first two seasons in the league. The 2017 first-round pick took a step forward in terms of efficiency after the team fired Hue Jackson and Todd Haley last season, catching 25 of 37 targets for 342 yards (9.2) and two touchdowns over the final eight games. Njoku had fewer yards (297) on more targets (51) in his first eight games, though part of the problem was a slow start with Tyrod Taylor under center. It doesn't hurt that the 23-year-old tight end appears to be on Mayfield's good side already.

Njoku acknowledged there will be more competition for targets with Odell Beckham joining the Browns, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "It's competition," Njoku said Wednesday. "Whoever's open gets the ball. We're a team, so we've got to see it as such. But at the at end of the day, we've got to compete."

Beckham and backup tight end Demetrius Harris will join a roster with five holdovers -- Njoku, Duke Johnson, Jarvis Landry, Antonio Callaway and Rashard Higgins -- that caught 39 or more passes for the Browns last season. Add in running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt (suspension) and it's impossible to find another team with comparable depth at the skill positions. It will be tough for Njoku to take a big step forward from last year's mark of 88 targets (5.5 per game), but the situation is at least conducive to improved efficiency and a plethora of touchdowns to go around.