Monday leftovers

Lost in the frenzy of the Browns' recent surge back into the National Football League's post-season picture lies the stark reality that Joe Flacco appears to have unlocked the secret as to why David Njoku has been a sizable disappointment since being selected in the first round of the 2017 college football draft.

Njoku had the size at 6-4 and a famously-chiseled 246-pound frame he proudly displayed during pre-game warmups no matter the weather. He sure looked impressive in his uniform. 

Once he stepped onto the field, though, it was a different story. He played the game as though he was allergic to pigskin. No matter the quarterback, he has had trouble with his hands, not only securing the throw when targeted but holding on to it. Instead of catching the ball, he fought it and piled up his drops.

He became unreliable to the point where he often became an afterthought in game plans. At the same time, he worked on his blocking and developed into a reliable asset in the ground game, but did not abandon his quest to become valuable in the passing game.

It wasn't until Flacco came along three games ago that Njoku showed signs of flourishing. In fact, prior to his arrival, the great concern in Browns Nation was Njoku's drop count rose to the point where he was among the league leaders in that department.

The two didn't click in their first game together, a loss in Los Angeles against the Rams, but Flacco seems to have picked something up with regard to how Njoku runs his routes and makes himself available, and how savagely he runs after catching the ball.

Of the 704 yards in receptions he has compiled this season, the big tight end has gained 394 of them after making a catch. That's good enough for 18th place in the league, but given Flacco's new symbiotic relationship with him, that number should increase nicely.

He is a load to bring down when both feet are on the ground and churning following a reception. And now that he has added a hurdling kind of leap over defenders to his repertoire to avoid low tackles, he has become a danger to opposing secondaries.

Flacco apparently likes to see that kind of yardage pile up. Makes his stats look better. In the last two games against Jacksonville and Chicago, both victories, he targeted his tight end 22 times with Njoku grabbing 16 of them for 195 yards and three touchdowns. His 10 touches against the Bears represents his season high in that department.

To put that in perspective, Njoku scored only two touchdowns in the first 12 games of the season. 

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Watch out, Wyatt Teller, the grim reaper is coming for you after claiming fellow guard Joel Bitonio early in the Bears victory with a bad back. Teller is the lone remaining offensive lineman from the group that began the season. Back injuries are tricky, especially for someone like the 6-4, 320-pound Bitonio, who is 32. He is now listed as day-to-day.

Gone and not coming back until 2024 are LT1 (Jedrick Wills Jr.), C1 (Ethan Pocic), RT1 (Jack Conklin) and RT2 (Dawand Jones). 

Protecting Flacco now are tackles Geron Christian and James Hudson III, Teller and Michael Dunn (depending on Bitonio's status come game time Sunday in Houston) and center Nick Harris. The latter limped off the field in the fourth quarter Sunday with a foot injury, but returned. If he is unable to go against the Texans, rookie Luke Wypler from Ohio State is the next man up.

The inexperience of that new offensive front could be one of the reasons Kevin Stefanski has slanted his attack heavily toward the forward pass. Sunday's 29 yards on 18 attempts was a season low. That's not Stefanski football. He keeps this up and opposing defensive coordinators will ignore Flacco's play fakes and zero in on him. Got to keep them honest.