85 David Njoku TE

Njoku (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku is in the clear for Sunday's game at Cincinnati after the Browns capped his reps in their first Week 7 practice Wednesday. The 24-year-old returned from injured reserve Week 5 and has struggled to find looks in the Browns' passing attack behind top tight end Austin Hooper in his first two games back in action, hauling in two of four targets for 13 yards.

Njoku was limited at practice Wednesday due to a shoulder injury, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

In three games this season, Njoku has been limited to five catches on seven targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. There's been plenty of speculation that the tight end may be dealt before the Nov. 3 trade deadline, and at this point, such a move would be Njoku's clearest path to regaining fantasy relevance. For now, he'll look to work through the shoulder injury and attempt to play Sunday in Cincinnati.

Per a source, Njoku wants to be traded by the Nov. 3 deadline, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku expressed the same desire to be traded during the offseason but rescinded the request in August. At this point, the Browns have been unwilling to trade him, but Njoku might be an attractive target for teams that could give Cleveland help at linebacker and in the secondary. The Browns rotate their three tight ends with Njoku and Harrison Bryant getting reps behind starter Austin Hooper; however, there is not a lot of production to be had for them as receivers, as Cleveland is a run-oriented team. In three games this season, Njoku has five catches on seven targets for 63 yards.

Njoku caught one of three targets for seven yards in Sunday's 38-7 loss to Pittsburgh.

This was Njoku's second week back from a knee injury, and he had a season-high 40 percent of the offensive snaps (23 of 57). It's natural that he would get more usage during a game in which the Browns trailed early and were forced to throw often, as Njoku's considered more of a receiving threat at tight end than a blocker. Still, it was the first time he had more snaps and a larger share of playing time than rookie Harrison Bryant (37 snaps).

Njoku caught his lone target for six yards in Sunday's 32-23 win over the Colts.

Njoku made his return to the lineup after spending three games on injured reserve due to a knee injury, as the Browns operated with a full complement of tight ends for the first time since Week 1. He had 21 snaps, fewer than Harrison Bryant (29) and starter Austin Hooper (58).

Njoku (knee) was activated from injured reserve Saturday.

As expected, Njoku was activated off injured reserve following a three-week absence due to a sprained MCL. Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant still figure to factor into the offense somewhat, so it might be hard for the 2017 first-round pick to really assert himself from a fantasy perspective, especially in a difficult matchup against the Ravens.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Friday that Njoku (knee) will be activated from injured reserve ahead of Sunday's game against the Colts, Anthony Poisal of Cleveland's official site reports.

The Browns may wait until Saturday's deadline for Week 5 transactions to officially activate Njoku, but the tight end looks like he'll be ready to contribute after a three-week absence due to an MCL sprain. Stefanski noted that Njoku was a full participant in all three of his practices this week, so the 24-year-old likely won't face any restrictions against Indianapolis. That said, high-priced free-agent pickup Austin Hooper and rookie fourth-round pick Harrison Bryant should also retain roles at tight end, making it difficult to count on Njoku taking on significant snaps and target volume in a run-heavy Browns offense.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Thursday that Njoku (knee) is "100 percent" recovered from his injury, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Njoku, who was designated to return from injured reserve earlier this week, is currently in the midst of a 21-day window during which the Browns can evaluate him. If active for Week 5 against the Colts, Njoku's workload could still be limited, as both Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant have played well of late.

The Browns designated Njoku (knee) to return from injured reserve Wednesday.

The transaction opens up a 21-day window during which the Browns can evaluate Njoku in practice, but he isn't expected to require the full period before Cleveland adds him back to the 53-man roster. Since Njoku has already missed Cleveland's last three games, he'll be eligible to play Sunday against the Colts, assuming his sprained knee responds well to practice. Though Austin Hooper sits atop the Browns' depth chart at tight end, Njoku was more involved in the passing game of the two in his lone appearance Week 1 in Baltimore, hauling in all three of his targets for 50 yards.

Njoku (knee) is expected to return to the roster for Week 5's home game against the Colts, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed the news that Njoku himself broke in a tweet. His return should mostly impact rookie Harrison Bryant, who has been playing the backup role to starter Austin Hooper. Cleveland has often used multiple tight ends, so there could still be snaps for all three against an Indianapolis defense that has allowed just 71 yards to tight ends, the fewest in the NFL.

Njoku (knee) confirmed via his official Twitter account Monday that he's eligible to be activated for Week 5's matchup against the Colts.

Njoku has spent the last three weeks on injured reserve nursing an MCL sprain, but he appears optimistic to return versus Indianapolis. Despite only playing 23 percent of snaps before injuring his knee Week 1, Njoku hauled in all three of his targets for 51 yards and a score. The 2017 first-round pick's role behind Austin Hooper may not allow him consistent weekly fantasy production, but he'll always retain upside in the red zone. The Browns have yet to officially designate him for activation from IR.

Njoku (knee) was placed on injured reserve Monday due to a sprained MCL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Njoku suffered the injury during Sunday's divisional loss to the Ravens. He's been handed a three-week recovery timetable, a span which coincides with the date he'll be eligible for activation from IR. For the time being, Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson will pick up the slack behind starting tight end Austin Hooper.

The Browns placed Njoku (knee) on injured reserve Monday.

Njoku will miss at least three weeks on IR after suffering a knee injury during Sunday's loss to the Ravens. As long as he remains sidelined, Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson stand to see increased opportunities behind Austin Hooper. Njoku got off to a promising start Week 1 before suffering his knee injury, hauling in all three of his targets for 50 yards and a score.

Njoku was forced out of Sunday's game against the Ravens with a knee injury, Andrew Gribble of the Browns' official site reports.

Prior to his exit, Njoku hauled in all three of his targets for 50 yards and a TD. Added tight end snaps behind Austin Hooper are now available for Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson.

Njoku (wrist) participated in full-team drills Sunday for the first time in more than a week, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Njoku made an instant splash with a 64-yard gain on a pass from backup quarterback Case Keenum. It sounds like the tight end should be ready for Week 1, but it still isn't ideal that he's been bothered by soreness in the same wrist he broke last September. Njoku's role behind Austin Hooper isn't likely to produce a ton of targets even if it proves to be pivotal for the Cleveland offense as a unit.

Njoku (wrist) returned to practice Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Sidelined since Saturday as a result of the issue, Njoku may ease into drills with the state of his wrist in mind. No matter, he'll now prepare to be the Browns' No. 2 tight end behind offseason acquisition Austin Hooper, a reality that impacts his potential for the 2020 campaign.

Njoku's absence from practice Saturday was due to a wrist injury, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

It wasn't clear why Njoku missed Saturday's practice initially, but the absence is now explained. The Browns have yet to make an official report, which seems to indicate it's not a serious problem, but more information should be available in the coming days.

Njoku is not practicing Saturday for an undisclosed reason, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

It is unclear if Njoku is dealing with some type of issue or if he is just getting a routine day off. His absence at practice should free up some snaps for Harrison Bryant, Pharaoh Brown and Stephen Carlson behind top tight end Austin Hooper. Njoku's status will have to be monitored until the Browns provide some more clarity on the situation.

Njoku rescinded his trade request Saturday tweeting, "I'm all in Cleveland. Time to work," Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

It hardly made sense, at least from the Browns' perspective, to give into the 2017 first-round pick's demands, particularly heading into a 2020 campaign with an offense that is expected to heavily feature two tight-end sets. While Njoku will be hard-pressed to see the same sort of playing time he received in both 2017 and 2018 sitting behind star offseason acquisition Austin Hooper, the expected reliance on multiple tight ends comes from head coach Kevin Stefanski, who operated with that same sort of system in Minnesota last season. Irv Smith, who operated as the No. 2 TE with the Vikings in 2019 behind Kyle Rudolph, managed to total 36 receptions and 311 yards off 620 offensive snaps, numbers that would easily set up Njoku for a favorable offseason market if he opted not to re-sign with the Browns following the conclusion of this season.

Njoku is requesting a trade, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Njoku and his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, are hoping the Browns will trade their tight end before training camp begins. The 2017 first-round pick made some big plays during his first two seasons, but his consistency never came close to matching his athleticism, and he then missed 12 games in 2019. The Browns signed Austin Hooper in March, and while early reports suggested the team would keep both tight ends, it now appears Njoku has other plans. The Browns exercised his fifth-year option for 2021, which is guaranteed for injury only.