OCTOBER 6, 2021 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
DAVID NJOKU #85 - TIGHT END - CLEVELAND BROWNS
345 YDS •
40 REC •
2 TD
345 YDS
40 REC
2 TD
David Njoku: "We're playing very well in the tight end room" David Njoku addresses the media before practice on October 6th, 2021.
Catches two passes in win Njoku caught two of two targets for 17 yards in Sunday's 14-7 win over the Vikings.
Impact After a Week 1 explosion for 76 yards and two catches of more than 20 yards, Njoku has just four catches for 35 yards the following three weeks. That opening week should be viewed as an outlier, as Cleveland and Kansas City hooked up in a shootout. The Browns' preferred course of operation is what occurred Weeks 2 through 4 -- a run happy team that throws when it has to or to keep defenses from keying on running backs Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Njoku and fellow backup tight end Harrison Bryant are tied at 10 targets through four weeks, although Njoku consistently has led in snaps.
OCTOBER 4, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Leads TEs in snaps Njoku was not targeted in 50 snaps (62 percent share) in Sunday's 26-6 win over the Bears.
Impact Njoku continues to get a healthy share of the snaps on offense, but his fantasy production dropped off for a second straight week following a five-target performance in a Week 1 loss to Kansas City. The main difference in the two weeks since the opener is that Cleveland is running the ball much more than they did in the Kansas City game, which was a more wide-open affair. Fellow backup tight end Harrison Bryant (33 snaps, 41 percent share) failed to catch either of his two targets.
SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Falls back Week 2 Njoku caught two of three targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 31-21 win over the Texans.
Impact Njoku was Cleveland's receiving-yardage leader Week 1, but he finished behind several others Sunday, including tight end mates Austin Hooper and, more notably, Harrison Bryant. It's not that the Browns shied away from Njoku -- his three targets were third on the team -- but the offense simply didn't flow his way. He played more snaps (36) than Bryant (31) and remains an active target, which could be beneficial in the coming weeks. The position group as a whole became more important to the offense after Jarvis Landry sustained a knee injury that is expected to sideline him multiple weeks. If Odell Beckham (knee) remains out as well Week 3 against Chicago, Njoku, Bryant and Hooper could have as heavy involvement in the game plan as they did against the Texans.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
David Njoku's 'Mindset' Adjustment,- as well as Playmaking Ability - Paying Dividends for Browns Offense Fifth-year tight end is poised to be a big factor in the Browns offense.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
Kevin Stefanski discusses Baker Mayfield, David Njoku in press conference: Transcript Kevin Stefanski answered questions from reporters on Wednesday prior to the Browns' practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus.
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
Yardage leader Week 1 Njoku caught three of five targets for a team-high 76 yards in Sunday's 33-29 loss to Kansas City.
Impact Njoku (35 snaps, 59%) played nearly as much as starter Austin Hooper (38, 64%) and showed off his athleticism with a 43-yard reception, the second longest among Cleveland targets. It's a promising start for Njoku, who appeared to have lost playing time to then-rookie Harrison Bryant in 2020, but he nearly doubled Bryant's 19 snaps.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Nantz, Romo in awe of Mayfield's 43-yard laser to Njoku Announcers Jim Nantz and Tony Romo are in awe of Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield's 43-yard laser to Browns tight end David Njoku...
SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • NFL.COM
Kevin Stefanski discusses Greg Newsome II, David Njoku in press conference: Transcript Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski answered questions from reporters prior to Wednesday's practice in Berea.
AUGUST 25, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
Sits out Sunday Njoku did not play in Sunday's 17-13 win over the Giants in preseason Week 2, Scott Petrak of the Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Impact A healthy Njoku joined fellow tight ends Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant in not playing Sunday, leaving most of the reps for Jordan Franks and Connor Davis. The Browns also used fullback Johnny Stanton at tight end.
AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Best receiver on the team? A surprise at safety? Terry Pluto's Browns Scribbles Is David Njoku's new attitude for real? What's up at linebacker?
AUGUST 22, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
Burns multiple corners Njoku (shoulder) had a good day in camp Friday, beating three separate corners in day two of the Browns-Giants joint practice, Ellis. L. Williams of the Cleveland Plain Dealer repo...
Impact Njoku showed off his athleticism and hesitation moves, getting behind Xavier McKinney and Jabrill Peppers for touchdowns, then running a crisp route against Logan Ryan. The fifth-year tight end missed the preseason opener due to the shoulder, but he's had a good camp when healthy and appears ready to play Preseason Week 2 against the Giants on Sunday afternoon.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Marla Ridenour: David Njoku sees a chance to flip the flip card, wants to remain with Browns BEREA, Ohio — David Njoku has a chance to earn the Browns' No. 1 tight end job this season.
AUGUST 21, 2021 • SACBEE.COM
Baker Mayfield discusses David Njoku, Jabrill Peppers in press conference: Transcript Baker Mayfield answered questions from reporters prior to Friday's training camp practice in Berea.
AUGUST 20, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
David Njoku focused on 'winning every day' Njoku was one of the top players during Day 1 of joint practices with the Giants and believes he’s in a positive mindset to thrive in 2021
AUGUST 20, 2021 • CLEVELANDBROWNS.COM
David Njoku sees a chance to flip the flip card, wants to remain with Browns 'I'd like to stay here,' Browns' David Njoku says as 2020 success, opportunity in tight end corps resets his view of Cleveland future
AUGUST 20, 2021 • BEACONJOURNAL.COM
Browns' Njoku happy with role, wants to stay in Cleveland
Browns tight end David Njoku has changed his mind — againAUGUST 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Njoku has a Positive Mindset and Says He Switched Agents in Hopes of Staying with the Browns Long-Term tight end
AUGUST 20, 2021 • 247SPORTS.COM
Is David Njoku a top-10 tight end? Will Greg Newsome II start? What we learned from Browns-Giants joint practice: Ellis L. Williams The Browns practiced against the Giants on Thursday and it answered a few important questions.
AUGUST 20, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
Watch: Baker Mayfield and David Njoku connect on several deep passes as the Browns battled the New York Giants during their first joint-practice session Watch highlights from Day 16 of Browns training camp and the first joint practice with the New York Giants.
AUGUST 20, 2021 • CLEVELAND.COM
Landry stars; Browns, Giants keep it cool in joint practice
Jarvis Landry was the day's biggest star as the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants held the first of two joint practicesAUGUST 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Browns TE David Njoku once again fires his agent Njoku immediately demanded a trade from the Browns after hiring Rosenhaus a year ago
AUGUST 14, 2021 • USATODAY.COM
Handling individual drills Njoku (shoulder) went through individual drills at Wednesday's practice, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Impact Njoku has been forced to miss practice since picking up a shoulder injury Tuesday, so it's encouraging to see him back out on the field. Unless he's able to resume practicing in full expediently, though, Njoku could be in danger of missing the Browns' first preseason match, with Saturday's exhibition against the Jaguars just around the corner.
AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Second on depth chart Njoku (shoulder) is listed as the No. 2 tight end on the Browns' unofficial depth chart.
Impact Njoku has had a good camp thus far but sustained a shoulder injury that forced him to sit out Tuesday's practice. The Browns appear to value his ability in one-on-one situations, which puts him above second-year man Harrison Bryant for now. In 2020 however, Bryant played more snaps than Njoku.
AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tending to shoulder issue Njoku didn't practice Tuesday due to a shoulder injury, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
Impact Njoku has had a rough past two years in Cleveland, spending time on IR due to a broken wrist in 2019, residing in Freddie Kitchens' doghouse upon his return that season and playing behind both Austin Hooper and rookie Harrison Bryant in 2020. In total, Njoku has gathered in 24 of 39 targets for 254 yards and three touchdowns in 17 appearances during that stretch. Now with another injury in tow, Njoku is in danger of missing preseason action, with the Browns set to kick off exhibition season Saturday at Jacksonville.
AUGUST 10, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
