CLEVELAND — When the Cleveland Browns make their first appearance in 11 years on Sunday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland this weekend, they will be minus at least two starters, one on each side of the ball.
Tight end David Njoku and linebacker Christian Kirksey did not practice on either Wednesday or Thursday, and their absences could be of the long-term variety. In addition to a concussion, Njoku is dealing with a wrist injury while Kirksey has a chest issue.
“We are just trying to decide what the best course of action is right now,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said of Njoku. “He is visiting our doctors and going to determine what the best course of action is moving forward.”
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Njoku suffered a wrist injury Monday night that could require surgery.” Schefter went on to report that ‘Njoku is getting additional medical opinions to find out if surgery is necessary and how long he would be sidelined.”
Until now, Njoku has not dealt with major injury concerns in his professional career, as he played in 34 straight games since joining the Browns via a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami (Florida).
This year, Njoku has four receptions in seven targets for 37 yards and one touchdown, which came in the Browns’ 43-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 regular-season opener at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland on Sunday, September 8.
“I think everything is on the table right now,” Kitchens said. “We will see. We will see what the options are.
“Some of it is what we are trying to figure out. I am not saying that it is not broken. I am just saying we are trying to determine the severity of the injury really. We should know something -- I do not know -- maybe tonight.”
Now in his sixth season with the Browns out of the University of Iowa and currently, a third-year captain, Kirksey registered 11 total tackles, including six solo stops and five assists, through the first two games.
“Christian, we are trying to evaluate and see what the best course of action is with him,” Kitchens said.
“We are talking to other doctors to see what the action is.”
Kirksey entered his sixth season with the Browns having played in 71 games with 52 starts. In those games, Kirksey registered 452 total tackles, including 282 solo stops, 170 assists and 11.5 sacks for 49.5 lost yards.
Also, Kirksey collected two interceptions, defended 17 passes, forced four fumbles and recovered three others.
Despite playing in only seven games during the 2018 season because of a hamstring injury, Kirksey set or matched career highs for interceptions and passes defended.
“He is the leader in our room,” linebacker Joe Schobert said of Kirksey. “He is the leader on defense, our vocal leader. He is the leader on the team. Not having his presence out there is definitely going to be missed.
“I have a lot of faith in these young guys and what they are showing through spring, through training camp and up until now. It will be under the lights and it will be a little bit bigger, but they played at big time universities in big time games, so I am excited to see what they can do.”