The Cleveland Browns got hit with injury amid insult on Sunday, September 8, as David Njoku went down with an ankle problem during the team’s blowout home loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reported Monday that the Pro Bowl tight end is week to week with what is likely a high ankle sprain. She added that he will probably miss multiple games as he recovers.
“He’s expected to miss at least a couple of games with the injury, which didn’t look good on Sunday night when he hobbled out in a right walking boot,” Cabot wrote.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski refused to confirm the precise nature of Njoku’s injury during a media session Monday. He was also relatively quiet about the team’s plans to replace Njoku with a free agent or trade addition.
“Yeah, working through all those types of things today and tomorrow,” Stefanski said. “But we have options, and we’ll work through them.”
Behind Njoku on the depth chart is Jordan Akins, who has played in 18 games for the Browns over the past two years and caught 18 passes for 159 yards during that span. Cleveland also had tight ends Blake Whiteheart and Cameron Latu on the practice squad as of last week, per Yahoo Sports.
Njoku put up career highs of 81 catches, 882 yards and 6 TDs last season, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl across seven years in the NFL. He had 4 catches for 44 yards on Sunday prior to sustaining the ankle injury.
Browns Offense Struggled Mightily in Season Opener Against Cowboys
Njoku’s absence looks even more concerning for the Browns considering how poorly the offense played Sunday against Dallas.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson threw for 169 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTS. The team was able to gain only 54 total yards in the first half with Njoku’s help. What’s worse, Watson didn’t complete a pass for more than 6 yards downfield at any point in the first two quarters.
New wide receiver Jerry Jeudy played well, hauling in 3 catches for 25 yards and a score, while Pro Bowl wideout Amari Cooper had just 2 grabs for 16 yards and dropped what was almost certain to be a touchdown pass in the second half.
Cleveland’s schedule is manageable, which is a silver lining amid the offense’s abysmal performance and Njoku’s injury. But even despite the fact that the Browns don’t square off against another playoff team from 2023 until they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 6, four of Cleveland’s next five games are on the road.
Browns Could Have New Starting QB by Time David Njoku Returns From Injury
If Watson’s struggles continue, the Browns may be quick to move to either backup Jameis Winston or second-year player and third-string quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell laid out the reasoning in an article published Monday.
“Instead, the Browns seem to be perpetually waiting for a universe in which everything is right and Watson suddenly morphs back into the quarterback they paid so much to acquire,” Barnwell wrote. “You can only fool the players and fans for so long. Watson has now played 13 games in a Cleveland uniform, and it’s becoming more and more clear with each start that this isn’t working.”
