The Cleveland Browns may be down their top passing game target Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. suffered a groin injury during Friday’s practice, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, leaving his status in question for the weekend.

It would be another big blow to an offense already playing without rookie RB Quinshon Judkins, who is out for the season after breaking his leg last weekend. 

Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr. suffered a groin injury during today’s practice, and the team wants to see how he feels this weekend before deciding whether he can play Sunday vs. the Steelers.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 26, 2025

Though Fannin has not been ruled out, the Browns figure to be cautious with him in a lost season. He enters the weekend as Cleveland’s leading receiver, posting 70 receptions for 701 yards and five touchdowns this season. He’s the team leader in every major receiving category. In Week 6against Pittsburgh, Fannin caught seven passes for 81 yards on 10 targets.

UPDATE (2:30 PM): Fannin told reporters he expects to play Sunday.

#Browns Harold Fannin Jr. (groin) said he expects to face the #Steelers Sunday despite suffering the injury in practice today.

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 26, 2025

As he did in college at Bowling Green, Fannin has worn many hats for the Browns’ offense. Capable of aligning all over the formation, Fannin has carried the ball on designed runs and even occasionally played quarterback.

With veteran TE David Njoku battling a knee injury likely to keep him out another week, the Browns are suddenly thin at the position. Blake Whiteheart and Brenden Bates are the other two tight ends on their 53-man roster. Combined, the pair have just two catches for four yards. Whiteheart had been playing 10-30 snaps per game in recent weeks while Bates has only recently recorded playing time, logging a season-high 28 snaps in the Browns’ Week 16 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will be making his sixth start of the season. If Fannin is out, his top targets will be wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond, and Malachi Corley. Cleveland ranks 31st in scoring offense and has scored less than 17 points per game with Sanders in the lineup.

The Steelers and Browns kick off Sunday at 1 PM/EST. Fannin’s fate may not be known until inactives are posted 90 minutes ahead of the game, though any roster elevations the Browns make by Saturday’s 4 PM/EST deadline will hint at his status.