Notes: David Njoku healthy again after 'upsetting' season, ready to bring energy, take on huge role

BEREA — David Njoku had four catches for 44 yards before his 2024 season changed.It was never the same.Njoku sustained a high ankle sprain on a 29-yard catch in the third quarter of the Week 1 loss to the Cowboys. He returned after missing three games but said Monday he was never healthy the rest of the season."It was upsetting but there's no excuse," he said. "I still had the opportunity to do what I was able to do, so I'm striving to do more."Kevin Stefanski says Kenny Pickett will be back 'very quickly' and remains 'very, very much involved' in QB derbyNjoku finished with 64 catches for 505 yards, a career-low 7.9 yards per catch and five touchdowns. That was a disappointment coming off his only Pro Bowl season in 2023, when he set career highs with 81 catches for 882 yards and six touchdowns."We've all seen what Dave can do when he's healthy," coach Kevin Stefanski said. "I don't think he was healthy last season. So he's feeling good now. When he's himself and feeling like himself, he's a huge part of what we do, not only offensively, but just as a football team. And his energy is certainly felt throughout this building. So excited for him to be healthy."Njoku is expected to again have a primary role in the passing game, especially with so many questions at receiver behind Pro Bowler Jerry Jeudy.Joe Flacco trying to keep turnovers down to win starting QB job"It's not just passes being caught I'm being held account for, it's just the energy," Njoku said. "Energy's contagious. So I'm going to go outside today in pads and just scream for no reason and people will get fired up. Just those little, subtle things go a long way."The Browns drafted Harold Fannin Jr. out of Bowling Green in the third round. Fannin has impressed early and is expected to join Njoku often in two-tight end sets."Oh my God, he's a beast, right?" Njoku said. "I love it. He's awesome. It builds the competition. We get that much better together. He's awesome. He's a great kid."Njoku said he'd host Fannin at his house to stress the importance of blocking and so he could feel the "want-to." Njoku has evolved into one of the league's best blockers at the position and was asked where he developed his desire."I would say being forced to be a third-string," he said, referring to 2019 under coach Freddie Kitchens. "Being, I guess quote, unquote 'blackballed,' as they say."But, no, that really just woke up my drive, or I guess multiplied my drive. I wanted to do this because I wanted to do it. That was just that."Training Camp Log, Day 5: More reps, more efficiency for Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, Shedeur SandersCOMING ON STRONGLeft tackle Dawand Jones had his best practice Friday, according to line coach Mike Bloomgren's film review."That's obviously a very good sign," Bloomgren said. "Now we got to build on it today. Because just like everybody in this room, what we got to hunt in these dog days, in this phase of this training camp, is consistency."What made it Jones' best practice?"Kid came out and played well," Bloomgren said. "He really just did. I mean, he made a commitment."We talked about this last time I was in front of you. There's so many good things in the package that is Dawand Jones and it's our job and it's our collective job and his job to get those things out of him."INJURY REPORTRunning back Jerome Ford practiced for the first time after missing the first four days of camp with an undisclosed injury. He was limited to individual drills.** Receiver Cedric Tillman returned to team drills. He sustained a minor lower leg injury Friday and was held out of team drills Saturday. He made a nice contested catch on a throw from Joe Flacco.** Cornerback/special teamer Tony Brown II (undisclosed injury) returned in a limited role.** Receiver Michael Woods II (hand) remained out.** Backup lineman Teven Jenkins remained out but "is getting close," according to Stefanski.** Left guard Joel Bitonio got the day off. Lorenzo Thompson replaced him with the starters.** Safety Grant Delpit didn't participate in drills for the second straight practice, with Christopher Edmonds taking his spot. Defensive end Myles Garrett also watched team drills as he rested.LOCAL HEROUndrafted rookie receiver Luke Floriea, who went to Mentor and Kent State, continues to make plays."Luke has done a great job of learning the offense, of coming into camp in great condition," pass game coordinator/receivers coach Chad O'Shea said. "We say 'your job here is to get open and catch the ball,' and he has certainly put that on tape and has been displayed on the field so far. He's got a unique skill set to separate vs. tight man coverage, particularly in the slot alignment."FRESH LEGSRunning back Toa Taua was signed and practiced.The Browns needed to add to the position with rookie Quinshon Judkins unsigned following a domestic violence arrest and Ford still not in team drills.Taua (5-foot-9, 215 pounds) is in his first season out of the University of Nevada. He spent the past two seasons with the Michigan Panthers of the UFL and led the league with six rushing touchdowns last season.In 59 games at Nevada, he rushed for 3,995 yards and 33 touchdowns.EXTRA POINTSThe Browns are done two-spotting — running simultaneous drills on two fields. They did it in the offseason and the first four camp practices to increase the repetitions for the four quarterbacks.** The Browns had Rainbow Day, as pediatrics patients of University Hospitals attended practice and met players. Stefanski showed off the brown and orange Nike sneakers he wore with designs by patient Jordyn Cunningham.** Receiver Kaden Davis made a great back-shoulder catch at the pylon on a pass from Dillon Gabriel in a one-on-one drill.The post Notes: David Njoku healthy again after 'upsetting' season, ready to bring energy, take on huge role first appeared on BrownsZone with Scott Petrak.