Browns host flurry of veteran tight ends following David Njoku injury

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku suffered an ankle injury in the team's season-opening 33-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Following the game, head coach Kevin Stefanski described Njoku, who is coming off a career-high 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns in 2023, as "week-to-week."

Stefanski wouldn't confirm whether it was a high ankle sprain, which was the initial fear, but the eighth-year tight end is set to miss some time, nonetheless.

As a result, Cleveland is hosting several tight ends on free-agent visits/workouts on Tuesday, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Among those include Irv Smith Jr., Tommy Sweeney and Geoff Swaim.

Smith is currently a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad following a disappointing one-year stint with the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2023, the former second-round pick reeled in just 18 catches for 115 yards and one touchdown. However, he is still only 26 and could bring some upside to the position while Njoku is sidelined.

Sweeney, on the other hand, has been far less productive in his NFL career, registering just 18 catches for 165 yards and one touchdown since entering the league as a seventh-round pick in 2019. The 29-year-old is currently on the Chicago Bears practice squad after recording no stats in his 2023 campaign with the New York Giants. Still, Sweeney could provide some experienced depth behind backup tight end Jordan Akins.

Swaim, 30, could be the least risky of the three. He is the oldest of the bunch, but he has been reliable when given the chance throughout his nine-year NFL career with 110 catches for 846 yards and six touchdowns.

Of course, none will bring what Njoku has to the offense, but the Browns were in the market for a tight end before he suffered his ankle injury in Week 1. Now, it's very likely they will soon add another, and it could come from this list.