The Cleveland Browns have been working through a knee injury with tight end David Njoku, and it has affected his status in Week 17 against the Miami Dolphins.
After missing practice all week, the Browns ruled Njoku out in this matchup on Friday. He will miss his second game in three weeks with a lower body injury as the 3-12 Browns look to potentially scrape away a fourth win on the season. For a team already looking ahead to the 2025 NFL draft due to a poor season, the reasons to watch this Week 17 game got even fewer.
Here is everything we know on the status of Njoku, not only this week but ending the season next week as well.
David Njoku injury update
Njoku did not practice at all this week, now going into the third week in a row of dealing with an injury. He did not play in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, returned to the field last week against the Cincinnati Bengals despite practicing just one day, and now will miss this game.
The past two weeks, however, it was a hamstring injury that was hampering him. This week it is a knee injury that has sidelined Njoku as he got an MRI after the game against the Bengals last week.
If he cannot get back out onto the field next week against the Ravens, Njoku will finish his 2024 season with 505 yards and five touchdowns on 64 catches.
How long will David Njoku be out?
Njoku has now missed two of his last three games with lower body injuries despite playing against the Bengals last week. Sitting at 3-12 with one game to go after this matchup against the Dolphins, who knows if the Browns will push him to be back in Week 18 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Typically opting to play through an injury frequently, however, Njoku will likely play if he can against the AFC North foe.
Browns TE depth chart
The Browns recently signed a new tight end off the New York Jets’ practice squad to their active roster, Brenden Bates. Jordan Akins and Blake Whiteheart join him as the active tight ends in this game against the Dolphins. Tre McKitty is also on the practice squad.
In their Week 16 game against the Chiefs, it was Akins who grabbed three catches for 30 yards. Njoku, however, led the team in receiving last week with Dorian Thompson-Robinson in this game. If Thompson-Robinson looks to the tight end in this one as well, Akins may be his man.
