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Jaguars getting an edge against Cleveland after injury to key offensive player

• The Jaguars may not face one of the Browns' key offensive players in Week 2.

By Carlos Sanchez

Oct 31, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan reacts to the action late in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Oct 31, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; A Cleveland Browns fan reacts to the action late in the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images / Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
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Teams must always be ready to lose players to injury but the Cleveland Browns definitely took a significant hit when they lost tight end David Njoku to injury in the season opener. On the other hand, the Jacksonville Jaguars will gain an edge if he doesn't suit up for their Week 2 matchup.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that Njoku might've sustained a high-ankle sprain in the Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was spotted in a walking boot later in the game and will undergo further tests. There's a strong chance the Pro Bowl tight end will miss time.

A first-round pick in 2017, Njoku has been an integral piece of the Cleveland offense. Although he's been somewhat inconsistent throughout his career, he came through for the Browns last year, hauling in 81 receptions for 882 yards with six touchdowns. His success in 2023 earned him a four-year deal worth $56.75 million in the offseason.

Njoku's 123 targets last year were the second most among Browns players behind wide receiver Amari Cooper, so it's fair to say that they'll miss him if he sits out a considerable amount of time. In the opener, the seventh-year pro had four receptions for 44 yards.

If Njoku isn't good to go against the Jaguars, Jordan Atkins is the next man up at tight end for Cleveland. A third-round pick in 2018, the former UCF Knight caught 15 receptions on 23 targets for 132 yards in 2023.

The Jaguars cannot take the Browns lightly even if David Njoku doesn't play

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, so the last thing they should do is overlook the Cleveland Brown, even though they also fell in the season opener. If anything, they must take advantage of the matchup.

Even if David Njoku does suit up for Week 2, the Browns offense left much to be desired in the opener. Quarterback Deshaun Watson was particularly dreadful, going 24-of-45 for 169 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Similarly, wide receiver Amari Cooper was a non-factor, logging two receptions for 16 yards.

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville defense gave up just 20 points to the Dolphins' high-powered offense. Sure, they allowed Tyreek Hill to score on an 80-yard reception but the unit generally played well, constantly disrupting Tua Tagovailoa. Heck, they would've performed even better if they had gotten a bit of help from the offense in the second half.

Then again, there's a chance the defense may be without cornerback Tyson Campell. The former Georgia Bulldog suffered a hamstring injury in the opener, and the Jaguars could be without him in Week 2.

Of course, Trevor Lawrence and the rest of the offense will need to perform much better if they want to have a chance against the Cleveland Browns. It won't matter if the defense steps up if they cannot capitalize on their opportunities.

As of this writing, the severity of David Njoku's injury is unknown, but the Jaguars could catch a break if they don't have to face him in their first game at the bank in 2024.

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