JANUARY 25, 2022 • THEATHLETIC.COM
DAVID NJOKU #85 - TIGHT END - CLEVELAND BROWNS
345 YDS •
40 REC •
2 TD
345 YDS
40 REC
2 TD
What's next for TE David Njoku? All signs point to a nice payday with the Browns Cleveland appears likely to re-sign the free agent-to-be 25-year-old and make him a bigger part of the team's passing offense.
David Njoku closes productive season with strong urge to be even better for Browns Njoku built his best season since 2018 but feels he can do even more to push the Browns back to the playoffs
JANUARY 13, 2022 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
Notes: David Njoku says he wants to finish career with Browns — I love it here to the core Tight end David Njoku is eligible to become a free agent in March. He doesn’t want to go anywhere. “I love it here. I love it here to the co...
JANUARY 11, 2022 • BROWNSZONE.COM
Finishes with two grabs in win Njoku caught both of his targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Bengals.
Impact Njoku was questionable due to a shoulder injury but managed to get on the field and post his best seasonal output since 2018. The fifth-year tight end caught 36 of 53 targets for 475 yards and led all receivers with four touchdowns. After some drama the previous two seasons, including trade requests and being out-snapped by rookie Harrison Bryant in 2020, Njoku fell into line in 2021 and was a model contributor, per Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal. Since Sunday's win, Njoku expressed his desire to stay in Cleveland, per Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal. He becomes an unrestricted free agent, but it sounds like both sides would like to commit to another contract. Austin Hooper and Bryant are still around, but coach Kevin Stefanski uses tight ends as more than just blockers, and Njoku was the best receiver of the bunch.
JANUARY 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
David Njoku: "I love it here" David Njoku addresses the media on January 10th, 2022.
JANUARY 10, 2022 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
David Njoku: Browns, agent remain in contract talks: 'I honestly want to be here for the rest of my career' David Njoku said his desire to re-sign with the Cleveland Browns is \
JANUARY 10, 2022 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM
Suits up Sunday Njoku (shoulder) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Impact Njoku headed into the contest listed as questionable after returning to a limited practice Friday, but he'll look to close the season on a positive note on the heels of logging a 4/28/1 stat line in Week 17. Assuming no issues with his shoulder, Njoku should see his share of targets Sunday, but he remains a hit-or-miss fantasy option with Austin Hooper also in the mix for a share of Cleveland's tight end targets.
JANUARY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Stefanski says potential free agent David Njoku has shown "great growth" as player and person ’Tis the season for wondering about potential free agents and if they’ll return. The coaches certainly sound like they want and expect tight...
JANUARY 7, 2022 • BROWNSZONE.COM
Questionable for Sunday Njoku (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Impact With the Browns eliminated from playoff contention, it remains to be seen if Njoku will be activated for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If he's out or limited this weekend, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant would be in line to head the team's tight end corps in Week 18.
JANUARY 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Browns Malik Jackson to Covid list; Jadeveon Clowney, Denzel Ward, David Njoku, Malik McDowell miss practice Browns lose a starting defensive tackle to Covid list.
JANUARY 6, 2022 • 247SPORTS.COM
Absent once again Njoku (shoulder) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice session, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact Njoku hauled in all four of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Monday's loss to the Steelers, but he's been held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. He'll likely need to return in some capacity Friday if he hopes to play Sunday against the Bengals.
JANUARY 6, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
No practice Wednesday Njoku is listed as a non-participant on Wednesday's injury report due to a shoulder issue, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact Njoku will have two more chances to log practice activity ahead of Sunday's season finale against the Bengals. If Njoku is cleared to play this weekend, he'll likely be catching passes from Case Keenum, as head coach Kevin Stefanski has already ruled Baker Mayfield (shoulder) out for the finale.
JANUARY 5, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Touchdown in defeat Njoku caught all four of his targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Monday night's 26-14 loss to the Steelers.
Impact Njoku hauled in all the passes thrown his way on a night quarterback Baker Mayfield at one point misfired on 10 consecutive attempts. The tight end's performance was highlighted by his three-yard, contested touchdown grab to end the third quarter, Cleveland's first score of the game. After posting a goose egg in the Browns' Christmas Day loss to the Packers, Njoku rebounded nicely Monday and will try to finish strong versus the Bengals in Week 18.
JANUARY 4, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
MNF Top Plays: Steelers top Browns on emotional night for Roethlisberger
Closing out Week 17 NFL action, the Pittsburgh Steelers edged the Cleveland Browns on MNF. Here are the top plays!JANUARY 4, 2022
David Njoku highpoints fade ball TD with laser focus Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku goes up high to catch a touchdown pass from quarterback Baker Mayfield.
JANUARY 4, 2022 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
Watch Baker Mayfield's 3-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku in the 3rd quarter vs. the Steelers Baker Mayfield threw a three-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku in the third quarter on Monday night vs. the Steelers.
JANUARY 4, 2022 • CLEVELAND.COM
Two targets in Week 16 loss Njoku did not catch either of his two targets in Week 16's 24-22 loss to the Packers on Saturday.
Impact Both of his targets came on Cleveland's final drive that ended in quarterback Baker Mayfield's fourth interception of the day. Njoku was unable to hold on to one of the targets and was wide open on the other, but Mayfield missed him badly. With Austin Hooper back in the fold after spending Week 15 on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Njoku's involvement decreased.
DECEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cleared for Week 16 Njoku (knee) doesn't have an injury designation for Saturday's game in Green Bay, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact A mid-week addition to the Browns' injury report, Njoku's reps were capped Wednesday and Thursday, but his knee issue evidently wasn't concerning enough for Cleveland to give him a questionable tag heading into the weekend. After playing 100 percent of the offensive snaps in Cleveland's 16-14 loss to Las Vegas on Monday, Njoku should see a downturn in opportunities with top tight end Austin Hooper (illness) having been restored from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Cleveland has still made liberal use of two-tight end sets when Hooper has been available, so expect Njoku to be on the field for at least half of the Browns' plays.
DECEMBER 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Limited participant with knee issue Njoku (knee) is listed as limited on Wednesday's practice estimate, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact The seemingly minor knee injury is likely less relevant than Austin Hooper's return from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Njoku played every snap on offense in Monday's 16-14 loss to the Raiders, but he'll likely be back in a part-time role this Saturday in Green Bay.
DECEMBER 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Three catches in Week 15 Njoku caught three of five targets for 29 yards in Monday's 16-14 loss to the Raiders.
Impact Njoku finished second on the team in receiving yards behind Donovan Peoples-Jones, but more was expected out of Njoku with fellow tight end Austin Hooper (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list. It was actually third-string tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) who caught the only touchdown pass thrown by Browns quarterback Nick Mullens, giving Cleveland a short-lived 14-13 lead with his six-yard score in the fourth quarter. Cleveland will hope to get more of its regular starts, including quarterback Baker Mayfield, back from COVID-19 protocols by the time the team travels to Green Bay in Week 16.
DECEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Set for No. 1 TE role Monday Njoku is in line to serve as Cleveland's top tight end for Monday's game against Las Vegas after Austin Hooper (illness) wasn't reinstated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, Anthony P...
Impact After missing Cleveland's Week 14 win over Baltimore while he resided on the reserve/COVID-19 list, Njoku was restored to the roster Thursday, two days after Hooper tested positive for the virus Tuesday. Even with the NFL pushing the Browns' Week 15 game an extra two days, Hooper wasn't able to clear the necessary protocols, which should leave Njoku in store for one of his larger snap shares and target counts of the season. Cleveland could have No. 3 tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) available Monday, but expect Njoku to see the bulk of the work at the position as the healthier option. Njoku will be working with third-string quarterback Nick Mullens, who will pick up the start with both Baker Mayfield (illness) and Case Keenum (illness) still stuck on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
DECEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Browns-Raiders moved to Monday Njoku and the Browns will no longer play the Raiders on Saturday, after the NFL officially rescheduled the matchup between the two teams for Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
Impact Due to ongoing COVID-19-related issues within the Cleveland organization, the NFL is hopeful that by delaying the game two days, the Browns will restore enough players from the reserve/COVID-19 list to alleviate depth concerns on the roster. Top tight end Austin Hooper is one of 24 Cleveland players and 12 starters who has been placed on the list over the past week, and after testing positive for the virus Tuesday, he's not a lock to be available Week 15. If Hooper is held out, Njoku would have a clear path to the starting role, and quite likely, a fair amount of volume in the passing game.
DECEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Browns tight end David Njoku says team must have "next-man-up mentality" in wake of positive COVID cases David Njoku was activated off the COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday
DECEMBER 16, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
David Njoku believes Browns can 'adapt and overcome' COVID-19 'curveballs' Njoku was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday and is ready to step up for several of his teammates who unfortunately landed on...
DECEMBER 16, 2021 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
David Njoku: 'We need to overcome this adversity" David Njoku addresses the media on December 16th, 2021.
DECEMBER 16, 2021 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
