Just as the Cleveland Browns appeared to be on track for a relatively healthy offense ahead of their Week 9 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, they received some troubling news on their Thursday injury report. David Njoku, who had an impressive performance in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens and helped Jameis Winston find his rhythm with several key catches, missed practice due to a lingering ankle injury.
According to various Browns beat reporters, including Mary Kay Cabot from Cleveland.com and Scott Petrak from The Chronicle-Telegram and Medina Gazette, Njoku was absent but hasn’t been officially ruled out for the Week 9 game against the Chargers. Petrak noted that Njoku mentioned feeling “healthier” than he had earlier in the week.
Njoku’s health is crucial this season, much like Nick Chubb’s, due to his contributions beyond just receiving. Njoku is an elite blocker and a valuable target for Winston in short-yardage situations. If he’s not at 100% against a strong Chargers pass defense, the Browns will need Chubb to help balance the offense and prevent Winston from forcing deep passes.
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**Other Notable Injuries on the Browns’ Report**
Njoku isn’t the only key player missing practice on Thursday. Denzel Ward is again in concussion protocol, and both Jordan Hicks and Joe Bitonio also sat out for a second consecutive day. Ward’s absence would be a significant loss for the Browns’ secondary, which struggles without his leadership. Hicks’ presence is also important, especially with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah sidelined for Week 9 due to a neck injury.
The Browns’ depth chart is concerning for fans, as Geoff Swaim and Jordan Akins are likely to step in for Njoku. While Akins is reliable, Swaim has yet to make a notable impact this season. If Ward cannot play, Rodney McLeod Jr., who filled in for him in Week 8, will probably start. Additionally, look for Mohamoud Diabate to step up in place of Owusu-Koramoah; he performed well in Week 8 and currently has a solid PFF grade of 78.8.
Despite a potentially limited role for Njoku, the Browns should manage offensively, but their defense may struggle if Ward is unable to play. The game could hinge on which team can score last, especially if the Browns face challenges in consistently stopping the Chargers with these mounting injuries.
