The Cleveland Browns, after a busy offseason, walked in with no clear plan at the quarterback spot. Between Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, all splitting time under center, they haven’t had consistency from a personnel or production standpoint.
However, of the three, Sanders has offered the most upside, particularly in the long run, as becoming the solution at the most critical position in the sport. As a result, they’ll continue to try to get a measure of him as the season winds to a close. Unfortunately, after missing their veteran tight end in the last game, it remains to be seen if they’ll have to do it without David Njoku once again.
Will David Njoku Play Against the Buffalo Bills?
Thanks to the uncertainty with the quarterback, the Browns have had a rough offense all year long. Add in an offensive line that ranks dead last in the league on PFSN’s Offensive Line Impact, and the situation gets even worse.
As a result, Njoku hasn’t been able to produce at his usual level, leading to a ranking of number 51 on PFSN’s TE Impact. However, he is just two years removed from back-to-back finishes in the top five.
At 293 receiving yards and four touchdowns, his overall numbers have been pedestrian. However, they are made markedly worse when considering the last few weeks, during which he has totaled just 12 receiving yards in the previous four games.
In his stead, rookie Harold Fanin Jr. has truly stepped up. But his absence could play a significant role in the development of Sanders. Last week, a knee injury kept him out of virtually every practice, resulting in his absence from the game against the Chicago Bears.
Unfortunately, this week hasn’t started great either. As Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reported, head coach Kevin Stefanksi revealed that the veteran tight end wasn’t going to be practicing on Wednesday.
That would increase doubts about his chances of playing in Week 16. However, the two-time Coach of the Year also made it clear that there is an increasing likelihood that Njoku doesn’t miss their clash versus the Buffalo Bills.
While their focus is squarely on what they can get in the 2026 NFL Draft and the potential for Myles Garrett to become the all-time leader in sacks for a single season, they also have the opportunity to play the role of the Grinch for Buffalo.
After a decisive win over the New England Patriots, it finally feels like the Bills are clicking at the right time with the playoffs approaching. An upset by Cleveland could turn the tide in the other direction in a hurry, but the team will have a challenging task ahead of them if they have to take on the reigning MVP without Njoku in the lineup.
