Berea, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Browns tight end David Njoku has his right wrist and arm in an orange cast, yet he feels fortunate after being upended by Jets cornerback Nate Hairston in the first quarter on Sept. 16.
Njoku suffered a broken wrist and concussion on the play that saw him land on his head and his neck bend awkwardly as he tried to brace himself with his right hand before hitting the ground.
“It was fun until I hit the ground, then it was not fun anymore,” Njoku said of the play. “But I thank god that I’m alive. It could’ve been a lot worse, so I’m happy to be here and working.”
Looking back on it, Njoku didn’t appreciate getting his legs taken out from under him by Hairston.
“It was a cheap shot,” Njoku said. “But it is what it is. It’s football, comes with it.”
The replays were frightening to watch.
“I thank god that I’m alive,” Njoku said.
After being helped off the field, Njoku tried to return to the game but was placed in the concussion protocol.
As it turns out, that was a blessing in disguise because Njoku had broken his wrist and didn’t even know it.
“I didn’t really notice it at the time, I was trying to get back in,” Njoku said. “Luckily, I guess not luckily, but I had a concussion, so I wasn’t allowed to go back in then I got an MRI the next day and realized that I fractured part of my wrist.”
Njoku did not want to have surgery, which would’ve involved at least one pin or screw be inserted, and he’ll allow the wrist to heal naturally.
The tight end was placed on injured reserve and must miss a minimum of eight games. He’s optimistic he’ll be back this season.
“I’m definitely coming back once I get cleared,” Njoku said.
The earliest Njoku can play again is against Miami on Nov. 24.
