Sam Darnold's revival season starts strong, while other QBs struggle to find footing
While Sam Darnold had a big debut for the Vikings, these four other QBs in need of a career resurgence struggled in Week 1.SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
CLEVELAND BROWNS 3-14 · 4TH IN AFC NORTH
3-14 · 4TH IN AFC NORTH
Browns TE David Njoku could miss several weeks with a sprained ankle
Cleveland TE David Njoku could miss several weeks with a sprained ankle suffered in Sunday’s season-opening loss to Dallas.SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Labeled week-to-week Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (ankle) is week-to-week, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Impact 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.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Labeled week-to-week Coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Njoku (ankle) is week-to-week, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Impact 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 TE on Cleveland's 53-man roster, though the team also has Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart on the practice squad. Being labeled week-to-week sheds serious doubt on Njoku's availability against Jacksonville on the road in Week 2, but it doesn't sound as though Stefanski intends to be immediately forthcoming with a clear recovering timetable for the explosive tight end.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
2024 NFL Week 1 betting recap: Lions win 'pretty much swung the day'
What started off as a good day for the books didn't end that way. Patrick Everson breaks down how bettors won in Week 1, despite a Patriots...SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Perfect in opener Hopkins converted his lone field-goal attempt and both extra-point kicks in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.
Impact Hopkins was the only thing perfect in an ugly Cleveland loss. He nailed a 51-yarder to give the Browns a first-quarter lead and drilled a couple of extra points in the second half when the game was out of hand. Hopkins has been successful on 73 of 81 (90.1 percent) field-goal attempts since 2021.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Primary returner Week 1 Darden returned five punts for 72 yards and four kickoffs for 97 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1. He did not play on offense.
Impact Darden, who was signed Saturday to replace the waived David Bell, became the team's primary returner for all kicks. His addition paid early dividends when he set up the Browns on a short field following a 28-yard punt return that led to a field goal, giving Cleveland a 3-0 lead in the first quarter, its only lead of the game. Darden has been with the organization since the Browns claimed him late in the 2022 season.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
One target Week 1 Tillman caught his lone target for three yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.
Impact Tillman served as the fourth wideout, playing 26 snaps, as the Browns leaned heavily on their top three wide receivers. None of the four, which also includes Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy and Elijah Moore, had a good day, but that was mainly due to an ugly performance by quarterback Deshaun Watson (51.1 QB rating).
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Quiet in season opener Moore caught three of six targets for nine yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1.
Impact Moore was part of a big three at wideout, playing 71 snaps, fewer than only Amari Cooper (72) and more than Jerry Jeudy (62). None of the three had great success in the opener, but Jeudy was able to salvage his fantasy day with a touchdown. At the very least, it looks like Moore is the third wideout, ahead of Cedric Tillman (26). It's early in Moore's second season with the Browns, and he hasn't had the luxury of playing with the best version of quarterback Deshaun Watson, but things haven't panned out as the team envisioned when it traded for Moore ahead of the 2023 season.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Snap leader at TE Akins caught three of four targets for 27 yards and had a position-high 43 snaps in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys.
Impact The Browns had just two tight ends rostered and were down to Akins when starter David Njoku (ankle) was taken off the field in the third quarter. Njoku will undergo tests Monday to determine the severity of the injury, the results of which could alter Akins' value moving forward. The Browns currently have two tight ends on the practice squad, Cameron Latu and Blake Whiteheart, neither of whom have significant NFL experience.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Primary backup Week 1 Strong had two carries for 10 yards and caught two of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to Dallas in Week 1.
Impact Strong, who played 18 snaps on offense, was the primary backup to Jerome Ford (57) while D'Onta Foreman was limited to one snap. The distribution of backfield snaps are likely the result of the Browns falling behind. The Cowboys were ahead by three scores at halftime and four scores early in the third quarter. The need to throw benefits Strong more than Foreman.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
One offensive snap in opener Foreman did not have a touch or target and played one snap on offensive in a 33-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 1.
Impact There had been some uncertainty as to how the depth chart behind Jerome Ford (57 snaps) would shake out, and it didn't tilt toward Foreman in the season opener. Pierre Strong (18) saw most of the action behind Ford, but that could be due to the personnel packages used as the Browns fell behind early -- by three scores at half time and four scores early in the third quarter. If the game were closer, perhaps there would be a bigger role for Foreman.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Scores in Browns debut Jeudy recorded three receptions on eight targets for 25 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys.
Impact The Browns made it a point to get Jeudy involved in the offense in his Cleveland debut, as only Amari Cooper saw more targets. That didn't translate to much production, though he did manage a four-yard touchdown catch midway through the third quarter. Deshaun Watson's ineffectiveness makes it difficult to trust Jeudy moving forward even given the amount of opportunity he saw.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Totals 18 touches Ford rushed the ball 12 times for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys. He added six receptions on seven targets for 25 yards.
Impact Ford unsurprisingly served as Cleveland's lead back but saw his volume on the ground limited by the game script. He made up for that with a garbage-time touchdown with 29 seconds remaining and also had strong involvement as a pass catcher. While Deshaun Watson made things difficult for the majority of the Browns' skill-position players, Ford was a beneficiary as a regular dump-off option. So long as Nick Chubb (knee) is sidelined, Ford should be capable of putting together similar results moving forward.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles in opener Cooper recorded two receptions on nine targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys.
Impact Deshaun Watson was unable to distribute the ball successfully down the field, which plagued Cooper and all the Cleveland pass catchers. If there was a positive takeaway, it's that Cooper commanded nine targets to lead the team. Even so, it will be difficult to trust him until Watson shows improved form, though Cleveland should draw a softer defensive matchup in Week 2 against Jacksonville.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles in opener Cooper recorded two receptions on nine targets for 16 yards in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys.
Impact Deshaun Watson was unable to distribute the ball successfully down the field, which plagued Cooper and all the Cleveland pass catchers. If there was a positive takeaway, it's that Cooper commanded nine targets to lead the team. Even so, it will be difficult to trust him until Watson shows improved form, though Cleveland should draw a softer defensive matchup in Week 2 against Jacksonville.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Ugly Week 1 showing Watson completed 24 of 45 passes for 169 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys. He added five rushes for 39 yards.
Impact Watson was unable to move the Cleveland offense at any meaningful point in the game and averaged a disastrous 3.8 yards per attempt. Particularly troublesome was Watson's inability to distribute the ball effectively to his top pass catchers, as he was just 2-for-9 when targeting Amari Cooper and 3-for-8 when looking toward Jerry Jeudy. Dallas projects to be an above-average defense this season, but it will be difficult to trust any Browns' skill-position player regularly until Watson shows the ability to improve his level of play.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
NFL Week 1: What we learned from all 13 games on Sunday
FOX Sports' NFL experts break down what we learned from every game on Sunday and provide analysis on what it means for every NFL team.SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Deshaun Watson has rough return in first game since surgery as Browns thumped 33-17 by Cowboys
Deshaun Watson's return was roughSEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NFL highlights: Cowboys trounce Browns 33-17 in Brady's broadcast debut
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game for Week 1: Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
Tom Brady's LFG! Player of the Game will be a feature throughout the 2024 season. In Week 1, that award went to Cowboys LB Micah Parsons.SEPTEMBER 9, 2024
In walking boot, tests to come Njoku (ankle) exited the locker room in a walking boot after Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Impact Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com, coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game that Njoku will have more testing done Monday on the ankle injury that he suffered in the second half of Sunday's season opener. Njoku didn't return to the game after going to the locker room with trainers in the third quarter. An update on his availability for Week 2 against the Jaguars should surface after Monday's tests.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Undergoes X-rays Hughlett (undisclosed) was spotted entering the X-ray room following Sunday's 33-17 loss to the Cowboys, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact Hughlett appears to have left Sunday's loss a little worse for wear. The team will likely provide an update on the long snapper sooner rather than later.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE
Dak Prescott leads Cowboys to 33-17 romp over Browns in opener after getting new 4-year contract
Dak Prescott threw a touchdown pass hours after agreeing to a four-year, $240 million contract with Dallas and the Cowboys’ defense roughed up Deshaun Watson in his return, throttl...SEPTEMBER 8, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
