The Browns got some bad news Monday on another starting middle linebacker and their starting tight end.
Jacob Phillips is likely lost for the season with a pectoral injury suffered while making a tackle in Sunday’s 23-20 loss to the Ravens, coach Kevin Stefanski said. The injury comes on the heels of him missing most of last season with a torn biceps.
Starting tight end David Njoku, off to the best start of his career, will miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain, as many as five, a league source told cleveland.com.
Njoku, who left the loss to the Ravens on crutches and in a left walking boot, underwent an MRI on Monday which determined the extent of the damage. He’s tied with Amari Cooper for first on the team with 34 receptions and is second with 418 yards. He has one touchdown catch.
Stefanski said Njoku is “week-to-week,” and it appears he could be out as long as the Bucs game on Nov. 27 or the Texans game Dec. 4, which is Deshaun Watson’s first game back.
The Browns are currently down two tight ends, with Pharaoh Brown suffering a concussion in the second half of the Ravens game. He’s in the protocol, meaning the Browns might have to add a tight end this week.
As for Phillips, he joins his predecessor Anthony Walker Jr., who’s out for the season with a torn quadriceps tendon. Fortunately for the Browns, they traded for middle linebacker Deion Jones, and he’ll be able to start beginning Monday night against the Bengals.
Jones played about 33% of the snaps against the Ravens in his Browns debut. He said Friday he’ll also be ready to wear the green sticker soon and call the defensive signals on the field.
