Tag: David Njoku

TE David Njoku designated for return from I.R.

The Browns have 21 days to fully activate Njoku off I.R.

The Cleveland Browns have designated tight end David Njoku for return from the injured reserve list.

It’s a formality but a necessary one for Njoku to return to the Browns active roster. The team has 21 days to decide to activate Njoku, during which time he is able to practice and attend all team meetings and training functions.

Njoku has been on I.R. since after Week 1, a game where he played quite well (50 receiving yards, 1 TD). He injured his knee in the loss to Baltimore. The injury did not require surgery.

He would be the first Browns player to return from I.R. under the new rules implemented for 2020. Players can return after just three weeks and there is no limit to the number of players who can return from the injured list.

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Larry Ogunjobi, Wyatt Teller receive top Browns scores from Pro Football Focus

Teller, Ogunjobi and Njoku were the top-graded players at their positions around the entire NFL in Week 1

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Pro Football Focus released its initial game grades for every Cleveland Browns player in the Week 1 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Despite the lopsided 38-6 loss, PFF did find a couple of Browns who performed at an elite level.

Right guard Wyatt Teller scored an outstanding 91.2 for the Browns. Not only does it top the Browns offensive scoring from PFF, but it makes Teller the highest-graded guard in the entire league through Sunday’s games.

Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi also posted an elite score, grading out with a 94.5 on 31 snaps. That is also the highest score given to any defensive lineman from any weekend game via PFF.

On the full team level, the Browns fared surprisingly well overall. Cleveland’s team grade of 61.9 was higher than seven other teams, including the Washington Football Team, which won on Sunday. The Browns grade was propped up in part by an excellent tackling mark of 85.6, the second-highest of any team.

Tight end David Njoku also topped the 90.0 mark, earning a grade of 92.3 in his 17 snaps before leaving with a knee injury. That’s also the top score of any TE, though Njoku played less than 25% of the Browns snaps.

On the flip side, no team scored worse than the Browns on special teams. Others scoring terribly for Cleveland:

  • Safety Andrew Sendejo – 30.9
  • LB B.J. Goodson – 38.4
  • CB Tavierre Thomas – 45.8
  • WR Odell Beckham Jr. – 46.6
  • TE Harrison Bryant – 50.5

Browns place TE David Njoku on I.R.

Browns place TE David Njoku on I.R.

After a brutal loss in Baltimore on Sunday, the hits keep coming to the Cleveland Browns. The team announced it has placed right end David Njoku on injured reserve.

Njoku played just 17 snaps in the loss to the Ravens before leaving the game with a knee injury. He played well, scoring the team’s only touchdown in the process of catching all three passes thrown his direction.

The team does have depth at right end with Austin Hooper, Harrison Bryant and Stephen Carlson already on the 53-man roster.

The Browns also made it official in signing kicker Cody Parley to the active roster to take Njoku’s spot.

Browns postgame injury report from Week 1 is a crowded one

The Cleveland Browns were already banged up heading into the Week 1 trip to Baltimore. That injury list took on a few more additions.

The Cleveland Browns were already banged up heading into the Week 1 trip to Baltimore. That injury list took on a few more additions during the team’s ugly 38-6 loss to the Ravens.

Starting left tackle Jedrick Wills left the game early in the fourth quarter and did not return. He went down with a leg injury and reportedly could not put weight on the leg as he limped into the locker room.

Fellow rookie Jacob Phillips also suffered a leg injury. The Browns described the injury as a knee, but the linebacker provided a better visual aid of his own via his Instagram story. It was later deleted but was captured by alert fans on Twitter (h/t @BrownsByBrad)

Tight end David Njoku, arguably the best player on the Browns offense in Baltimore, also left early with a knee injury. Njoku did not return either.

The Browns and coach Kevin Stefanski did not offer any updates beyond cursory information in the postgame.

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Studs and Duds for the Browns from Week 1

Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season is finally in the books and if you are a Cleveland Browns fan it was like every Week 1 in years past.

Week 1 of the 2020 NFL season is finally in the books. If you are a Cleveland Browns fan it was like every Week 1 of years past, with our beloved Browns getting blown out. The Lamar Jackson-led Ravens dismantled Cleveland to a tune of 38-6 in Kevin Stefanski’s coaching debut.

Studs

Nick Chubb: Kareem Hunt was actually the leading rusher with 13 carries for 72 yards, but Chubb ran with more authority and was clearly robbed of opportunities with only 10 carries for 60 yards. The Browns were never in a position to win this contest, but had Chubb gotten more carries, perhaps the bleeding could have been slowed.

David Njoku: Writing this puts a smile on my face. Njoku has taken over the role of the most polarizing player on the Browns roster with half of the fan base screaming for him to be traded. The fact is Njoku is good and he proved that against Baltimore. Njoku was the second-leading Browns receiver with three receptions for 50 yards and the only touchdown.

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Tavierre Thomas: The first sack of the season goes to none other than defensive back, Tavierre Thomas. He is not an All-Pro caliber player and still had some lapses in this contest, but this is a guy who played three defensive snaps all of last season and was forced to played a lot in the opener. Thomas plays with high energy and demonstrated that this week.

Duds

Austin Seibert: Another controversial player, it feels like some fans are rooting against Seibert due to the franchise using a draft pick on him in 2019. This portion of the fan base is smiling today. Siebert missed an extra point and a 41-yard field goal and Twitter is on fire rooting for his exit.

Odell Beckham Jr.: I saw someone compare Beckham to Greg Little and I couldn’t help but laugh, but that is the perfect summary of what OBJ did on Sunday. The offense went from not including him into the plan to Baker Mayfield forcing every pass in his direction. Although some of that is not his fault, the awful drop on 3rd-and-2 will go down in history.

Baker Mayfield: Mayfield was forcing too many of his passes in the second half to OBJ and they were not wise choices. He looked frantic and inaccurate. Although I think that is fair for Week 1 with a shortened offseason, some fans are not as forgiving. Mayfield finished completing 21 of 39 attempts for 189 yards with only one touchdown and an interception.

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Watch: David Njoku scores the Browns first TD of 2020

Njoku benefitted from a brilliant play-fake by Baker Mayfield

The Cleveland Browns scored their first points of the 2020 season thanks to David Njoku.

Late in the first quarter, the Browns capped off a strong drive by fooling the Baltimore Ravens with a deceptive formation and a brilliant use of play action from Baker Mayfield to find an uncovered Njoku in the back left corner of the end zone.

The Browns had run the ball impressively on the drive, notably a 22-yard Kareem Hunt to set up the Browns with 1st-and-goal at the Ravens 2-yard line. Deploying a heavy formation with multiple tight ends, they convinced the Ravens it was going to be a run.

Mayfield sold the play-fake beautifully and Njoku had no problem securing the Browns’ first points of the 2020 season.

Alas, Austin Seibert missed the extra point and the Browns could only cut the Ravens lead to 10-6. It’s still a great play from the Browns offense.

Terrance Mitchell back at Browns practice, Greedy Williams and M.J. Stewart still out

The Browns secondary remains loaded with injuries but did get Terrance Mitchell back on Thursday

Thursday’s practice session in Berea saw one member of the Browns injury-ravaged secondary get back on the field. Cornerback Terrance Mitchell made his return to the active practice session after missing time nursing a knee injury.

It was a welcome boost to the defensive back depth chart. Greedy Williams and M.J. Stewart both remained sidelined for the afternoon practice. Williams is still out with a shoulder injury suffered in Monday’s practice, while Stewart is resting a hamstring issue that also appeared to first materialize on Monday.

Kevin Johnson, who was having an excellent training camp, is week-to-week with a lacerated liver suffered last week. Stewart had been getting Johnson’s first-team reps as the slot cornerback before going down himself. Johnson has returned to being on the sidelines but is not yet cleared for practice.

Donovan Olumba and Donnie Lewis Jr. have been the primary beneficiaries of increased reps while the players above them sit out.

Two other players who missed Wednesday’s practice, TE David Njoku and LB Tae Davis, were back and actively practicing on Thursday.

Browns TE coach Drew Petzing expecting ‘big things’ from Austin Hooper and David Njoku

Petzing came with coach Kevin Stefanski from the Minnesota Vikings

Browns tight ends coach Drew Petzing tagged along with Kevin Stefanski in moving from the Minnesota Vikings staff to Cleveland. A former intern with the Browns before he moved up the ranks in six years in Minnesota, Petzing is happy to be back in Cleveland. He’s also happy about having talents like Austin Hooper and David Njoku to work with in his new gig.

Petzing is already excited about the quick chemistry between Hooper and quarterback Baker Mayfield. The duo has been lighting it up throughout the first week of training camp.

“They developed a great friendship throughout the process and it definitely shows up on the field,” Petzing told Nathan Zegura of Browns Live. “I think they got a great feel for what the other is thinking and what the other is going to do and it allows us to be that much more dynamic on offense.”

Petzing also touched on Njoku and his work thus far.

“He’s been great,” said of the star-crossed Njoku. “From the moment we started working together virtually in the offseason and even through the summer, our conversations have been really positive. He came here in great shape and he’s been working his tail off in terms of learning the system.”

Petzing added,

“We’re definitely going to rely on everyone we have in that room and we expect big things from them.”

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David Njoku excited to be ‘side by side’ and attacking defenses with Austin Hooper

Browns TE David Njoku is excited to be ‘side by side’ and attacking defenses with Austin Hooper in Cleveland’s two-TE set

It’s been a crazy offseason for Browns tight end David Njoku. Coming off an injury-ravaged season, Njoku is adapting to another coaching and front office change in Cleveland. When he changed representation earlier this summer, his new agent instantly demanded a trade out of town. He also just became a father.

Njoku has personally walked back the trade request. He got a chance to do it once again in a Zoom session before Tuesday’s practice session, and “Chief” reiterated he is fully bought into being the best Browns player he can be in 2020.

“I just think it’s in my best interest for the time being to stay here and do what I can to help the team,” Njoku said. He later followed with a definitive,

“Yes, I want to be here long-term.”

Njoku is also excited to work with new teammate Austin Hooper.

“He’s an awesome person,” Njoku said when asked about Hooper. “We’re excited to do this together side-by-side and attack this year.”

The two-TE attack is the base offense of new head coach Kevin Stefanski and there should be ample opportunity for both Hooper and Njoku to get a lot of catches.

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