Browns Star TE David Njoku Officially Ruled Out for Chiefs Matchup
The Cleveland Browns were hoping to have star tight end David Njoku available today for their matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs matchup, but he is officially inactive.
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Njoku has been dealing with a hamstring injury and was set to use the warmups to determine if he could suit up on Sunday against the Chiefs. Instead of risking a worse injury, he has now been made inactive.
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 08: David Njoku #85 of the Cleveland Browns scores a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium on December 08, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Browns rule out David Njoku.
Justin Berl/Getty Images
Njoku has been one of the best tight ends in the game when available, but he has dealt with multiple injuries in 2024 that have sidelined him for three games. This will now be Njoku’s fourth missed game.
Through 10 games, Njoku has secured 439 yards and five touchdowns. He has been solid for fantasy football owners as well, securing 12.17 points per game per the NFL Fantasy Football app.
The Browns are currently 3-10 on the season and have already been eliminated from the playoffs. Though the team has nothing to play for, apart from securing some much-needed wins, they could be aiming to spoil the Chiefs’ attempts at securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
Kansas City has been on a roll this season, miraculously beating most of their competition in one-score games. At 12-1 on the season, they are aiming to run away with the top seed in the playoffs. Should they do so, they will once again have home-field advantage and a first-round bye week.
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs have continued to showcase why they are the AFC favorite to return to the Super Bowl.
The Browns, on the other hand, completely regressed. The team was a surprise in 2023, securing a 11-6 record, and heading to the playoffs under Joe Flacco. However, they were handily beaten by the Houston Texans in the Wildcard Round of the 2023 Playoffs.
In 2024, the team had a fully healthy Deshaun Watson, but the Browns simply could not get anything going. Even when Nick Chubb returned, the team was not playing like they had been in 2023.
Watson eventually suffered a season-ending injury, leading to Jameis Winston taking over. The Browns are 1-3 in their last four outings, and beating the Chiefs today would certainly spark some confidence for a team that has had bad luck all season.
Without Njoku, the team loses a quality receiver for Winston, and also a blocker in running back situations. However, pushing the star tight end into action with a concerning hamstring injury would not be smart at this juncture.
For more on the Browns, head to Newsweek Sports.
