After missing the first two days of training camp, TE David Njoku is happy to be back on the practice field.
"It felt awesome," Njoku said. "Exciting energy is all around so we've just gotta keep it going and keep working every day."
Njoku repeatedly emphasized his gratitude for his career's trajectory, now a reigning Pro Bowler set to have a major role in the Browns offense.
The tight end has plenty to be grateful for – most importantly his full recovery from facial and body burns sustained after an at-home bonfire during the 2023 season. Njoku, despite suffering second degree burns across his body, suited up for the Browns' Week 4 game against the Ravens just two days later.
"It was an accident, but I'm very glad it happened," Njoku said. "I feel like it changed my perspective immediately, in terms of what really matters in life and how far the human body can go."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski noted the change he saw in Njoku following the incident, which he called "traumatic."
"For what he went through and then how he grew from that was evident I think from all his teammates," Stefanski said. "Certainly, when you go through something as scary as that, you learn about yourself. You certainly put things in perspective. [...] I remember the next day I saw Dave and I was like 'Dave, that was crazy' and he's like, 'Yeah it was lit'. I don't know if I'd use that word, but yeah, it was crazy."
Njoku went far following the accident, finishing the season with 882 receiving yards, six touchdowns and his first career Pro Bowl selection. He had standout moments on the field, such as his 23-yard reception in Week 10 against the Ravens, in which he broke two tackles and bodied S Geno Stone on his way to a first down. His season-high 134 yards on six receptions in Week 17 against the Jets helped the Browns end the regular season with a win and his 599 yards after catch led all tight ends and ranked sixth among all pass catchers in the 2023 season.
However, Njoku won't be satisfied with anything less than ending a season with a ring on his finger, something he's dreamed of since the first grade. When he was younger, he watched NFL games on TV and saw the emotions of players as they won a Super Bowl. He's ready to experience that for himself.
"Yeah, I had a Pro Bowl last year, but I was still kind of pissed about being there and not practicing for a Super Bowl. Everyone on this team aspires to be in that position of playing for a championship and that's what team football is all about," Njoku said.
Since Njoku's promising start as a rookie in 2017 to now, Browns Executive Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Andrew Berry has seen significant growth in the 28-year-old tight end.
"You're talking about a guy who was a first-round pick, had a really good rookie year, got hurt, got to a point where he felt like the organization gave up on him, he got to a point where he was relegated to a lesser role, fought through it, wanted a trade, fought through it," Berry said. "We all grow and mature and I have a personal affinity for David seeing him go through all that."
As one of the longest-tenured Browns on the roster, Njoku is embracing the change that overtook the offensive staff over the offseason. With a new offensive coordinator in Ken Dorsey, as well as tight ends/pass game specialist Tommy Rees, Njoku said he was "happy" with the direction the offense was heading but emphasized that there is still a lot of work to be done.
During the opening days of training camp, Stefanski said that he would retain playcalling duties, cementing an element of consistency in the Browns' offensive identity. Njoku gave his approval of the decision, adding that he is willing to do anything to make the Browns a contender.
"He loves getting me the ball, so I love Kevin calling the plays," Njoku said. "I think he calls great plays. I think that all of us together, just brainstorming our thoughts towards one another, I feel like we can really dissect and get a lot of things done. Whatever they need me to do, I'll do. Obviously, it's more exciting when they try to get me the ball more. But whatever they need me to do, block, catch, run, dive, duck, dip, everything."
One way the Browns might choose to get Njoku the ball is by lining him up outside the numbers. The tight end's rare combination of size and speed makes it difficult for defenders to bring him down.
"Over the years, there's tight ends that you can line up out wide in the backfield, in line, and Dave's done a little bit of everything for us over the years – not every tight end can do that," Stefanski said. "But any time you put a tight end outside, typically, it's the physicality that corners are not used to. So, just the physicality of how those guys can bump the ball and get in and out of their routes and use their body are some of the things that you'll see with big tight ends."
Njoku's role on the offense will be one of many factors the Browns will need to use to their advantage as they take on a stacked AFC North this season. Njoku credited a roster full of veterans as a reason behind his confidence in what the Browns can do this year and said that "if it's easy, it's not really worth going all out for."
For Njoku, ease is an unfamiliar subject. Through injury and temporary dissatisfaction, through trial by fire to literal fire, Njoku is used to embracing discomfort.
"After that, nothing is really as painful as getting burned, as getting your face burned off," Njoku said. "Anything worth anything is going to come with adversity."
