CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Browns head into their Sunday Night Football game against the Los Angeles Rams more than a little bit banged up.
The Browns will host the reigning NFC Champion Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland without the services of three starters: linebacker Christian Kirksey, safety Damarious Randall and tight end David Njoku.
Currently, the Browns are mulling over surgical options for Kirksey (chest) and Njoku (wrist), while Randall will miss his second straight game because of a concussion. In addition to the wrist injury, Njoku is working through the NFL Concussion Protocol.
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.
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.
“Christian, we are trying to evaluate and see what the best course of action is with him,” Kitchens said.
Along with the three starters, the Browns ruled out backup offensive tackle Kendall Lamm because of a knee injury suffered in the 2019 regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on September 8.
While Kirksey, Njoku, Randall and Lamm are out, several other players are questionable for Sunday’s game.
Cornerbacks Greedy Williams (hamstring) and Denzel Ward (hamstring), safety Morgan Burnett (quadriceps), wide receiver Rashard “Hollywood” Higgins (knee), right tackle Chris Hubbard (foot), linebacker Adarius Taylor (ankle), safety Sheldrick Redwine (hamstring) and defensive lineman Chris Smith (personal) are all questionable for the game against the Rams.