In a significant blow to their playoff aspirations, the Cleveland Browns have officially ruled out tight end David Njoku and wide receiver Cedric Tillman for Sunday’s pivotal Week 17 clash against the Miami Dolphins. The absences of two key offensive weapons come at an inopportune time for a Browns squad fighting to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Njoku’s Loss Leaves Void in Passing Game
David Njoku, who leads the Browns with five touchdown receptions on the season, will miss the Dolphins game due to a knee injury suffered in last week’s contest versus the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals. The athletic tight end has emerged as a reliable red zone target for Cleveland, providing a much-needed additional dimension to an offense still finding its identity under center Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
Without Njoku’s presence as a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses, the Browns will need others to step up and fill the void. Look for Harrison Bryant and Jordan Akins to see increased snaps at tight end, though neither brings the same dynamic skill set or chemistry with Thompson-Robinson that Njoku offers. The second-year quarterback may need to lean more heavily on his wide receivers, particularly Amari Cooper and Donovan Peoples-Jones, to move the chains and finish drives.
Tillman Still Sidelined by Concussion
Adding to Cleveland’s pass-catching woes, rookie wideout Cedric Tillman will be sidelined for a fifth straight game as he remains in the concussion protocol. The third-round pick out of Tennessee had carved out a solid rotational role before suffering the head injury, showing flashes of the big-play ability that made him an intriguing draft prospect.
While not as vital a cog in the offensive machine as Njoku, Tillman’s continued absence thins out a Browns receiving corps that will need to be firing on all cylinders to keep pace with a high-powered Dolphins attack led by Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill. Speedster Anthony Schwartz and slot man Jakeem Grant will be counted on to provide a spark in Tillman’s stead.
Other Injury Concerns for Cleveland
The Browns’ injury woes extend beyond just Njoku and Tillman. Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo, a key rotational pass rusher, has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game with a knee issue. His absence weakens a defensive front tasked with slowing down Miami’s quick-strike aerial assault.
Additionally, backup quarterback Jameis Winston is officially questionable as he continues to deal with a shoulder injury that sidelined him in Week 16. If Winston can’t go, Joshua Dobbs would be elevated to the No. 2 role behind Thompson-Robinson. The Browns are also monitoring their young signal-caller closely as DTR was limited in practice this week with a calf issue, though he carries no injury designation heading into the weekend.
Kicking Carousel Continues for Cleveland
In a minor roster move, the Browns announced Dustin Hopkins will handle kicking duties against the Dolphins despite the team adding rookie Andre Szmyt to the practice squad earlier this week. Hopkins has struggled mightily in recent weeks, missing a league-high nine field goal attempts on the season, and was a healthy scratch for Cleveland’s Week 15 game. The revolving door at kicker adds another layer of uncertainty for a Browns team that can ill afford any miscues in such a consequential contest.
Margin for Error Razor Thin in AFC Wild Card Chase
At 7-8 and currently outside the AFC playoff picture, the Browns have no margin for error heading into these final two weeks of the regular season. Losing Njoku and Tillman depletes an offense in desperate need of explosive playmakers to complement Nick Chubb and the punishing ground game. If Cleveland has any hopes of playing into mid-January, they’ll need their “next man up” to rise to the occasion against a stingy Dolphins defense.
It’s never ideal to be down starters, especially this late in the year. But that’s the nature of this league. Guys have to be ready to step in and contribute whenever their number is called. We have confidence in the men in this locker room to get the job done, regardless of circumstance.
– Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski
Sunday’s showdown with Miami marks the beginning of a season-defining two-game stretch for Stefanski’s squad. Following the home date with the Dolphins, Cleveland travels to Pittsburgh to battle the arch-nemesis Steelers in Week 18. Two wins would give the Browns a fighting chance at claiming the AFC’s seventh seed, but a loss in either contest would all but assure them of another January spent on the outside looking in.
With their playoff lives on the line, the Browns must find a way to weather the losses of Njoku and Tillman as they host a supremely talented Dolphins outfit still battling for playoff position themselves. In a season marked by inconsistency and adversity, Cleveland has no choice but to buckle up their chinstraps and roll with the punches if they hope to defy the oddsmakers and crash the postseason party.
