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Dylan Sampson Using Crutches After Week 1 Loss
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) was seen using crutches and wearing a brace on his knee following Sunday's Week 1 loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Sampson handled two kick returns, but he didn't log an offensive touch before exiting early in the first quarter. The team ruled him out pretty quickly, and the fact that he was using crutches and a brace after the game indicates that he might have suffered a serious injury. It's tough news for the Browns, who were counting on Sampson to be a pass-catching specialist in the No. 2 running back role behind Quinshon Judkins. Assuming Sampson misses time, Raheim Sanders will step into the backup role. Sanders had one rushing attempt and three catches against the Jaguars on Sunday.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Dylan Sampson Ruled Out With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson was injured early in the first quarter and didn't record an offensive touch before leaving. He did return two kickoffs for 64 yards, including a 37-yard return on the opening kick. With Sampson done for the afternoon, Raheim Sanders is the next back up behind Quinshon Judkins.
Source: Camryn Justice
Source: Camryn Justice
Dylan Sampson Questionable to Return With Knee Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) is questionable to return against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Sampson entered the game as the primary backup to Quinshon Judkins, so Cleveland could be thinner than expected in the backfield if he can't make it back. Raheim Sanders would be the next man up behind Judkins. For now, Sampson's status is worth monitoring as the game continues.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Quinshon Judkins Better Left on the Bench in Week 1
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins opens the season in a rough spot against Jacksonville. Judkins is first on Cleveland's depth chart after running 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games as a rookie, so the early-down work should still be there. The matchup is the problem. Jacksonville led the NFL by allowing only 85.6 rushing yards per game last season and did not allow any opposing player to run for more than 75 yards. Cleveland is also a sizable road underdog, which could work against Judkins if the Browns have to throw. Dylan Sampson handled more of the obvious passing-down work last season, and that matters in this kind of game script. The Browns will also start five new offensive linemen, with rookie Austin Barber replacing the injured Teven Jenkins at right guard. RotoBaller has Judkins at RB23 for Week 1, but this is a week to look elsewhere if a solid alternative is available. His volume keeps him usable in deeper leagues, but the ceiling looks limited.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson a Worthy Deep-League Running Back Stash
A fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson recorded 446 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 98 touches across 15 games (two starts). The 21-year-old saw most of his production in the passing game, hauling in 33 catches for 271 yards and two scores on 40 targets. Entering 2026, Sampson remains unlikely to see significant work as a rusher as long as Browns RB1 Quinshon Judkins remains healthy. However, Sampson appears to be the team's clear RB2 and should play a consistent role as Cleveland's top pass-catching back. Heading into his second NFL season, Sampson profiles as an appealing handcuff running back option for fantasy managers with some standalone upside in full PPR scoring formats.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Dylan Sampson a Handcuff with Pass-Catching Upside
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson enters the 2026 season as a solid handcuff in fantasy football, but he also has a chance to carve out standalone value with his pass-catching ability. Sampson was limited to just 175 rushing yards across 15 games in his role behind Quinshon Judkins last year, but he made an impact as a receiver with 33 catches, 271 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns. Judkins will occupy the lead-back role again this year, but he may not play every down, opening the door for Sampson to get targets specifically on third downs. Plus, if Judkins were to miss any time due to injury, Sampson would step into the lead-back role. As it stands, he's the RB55 in RotoBaller's latest redraft fantasy football rankings. He has an ADP of 168.4, which corresponds to the 14th round and makes him the 53rd running back off the board.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinshon Judkins Expected to Have High-Volume Role for Browns
After working his way back from an ankle and fibula injury suffered in Week 16 of the 2025 season, Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins is set for a large role in 2026. Unsurprisingly, Judkins is listed as the Browns' top running back on the depth chart, with Dylan Sampson and Raheim Sanders behind him. Judkins is in line for a high-volume role in an offense led by head coach Todd Monken and offensive coordinator Travis Switzer. During his time as offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens from 2023 through 2025, Monken's offenses had more rushing attempts than passing attempts each year. In two seasons under Monken with the Ravens, running back Derrick Henry carried the ball 325 times and 307 times, respectively. Additionally, many questions remain about Cleveland's passing game with Deshaun Watson at quarterback. While defenses may stack the box against Judkins, he faced that often as a rookie in 2025 as well. Last season, Judkins rushed 230 times for 827 yards and seven touchdowns, including 505 yards after contact, while adding 26 receptions for 171 yards. Judkins currently has a Yahoo ADP of 54.2. He ranks as RotoBaller's No. 59 overall player and No. 24 running back in half-PPR formats.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Jaleel McLaughlin Signs Practice-Squad Deal with Browns
Veteran running back Jaleel McLaughlin has signed a practice-squad deal with the Cleveland Browns, per an announcement from the team. McLaughlin spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Denver Broncos, but he fell out of the team's regular running back rotation in 2025 and was waived by Denver on Sunday. The Browns have a pair of second-year running backs atop their depth chart in Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. However, McLaughlin could potentially work his way into the backfield mix in Cleveland in the case of an injury. The 25-year-old has been efficient when given the opportunity to this point in his pro career, recording 1,356 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 285 touches across 41 career NFL games (nine starts). McLaughlin is not roster-worthy yet, but he could be a name to monitor on the waiver wire in deeper fantasy leagues.
Source: Cleveland Browns
Source: Cleveland Browns
Dylan Sampson Can be a Receiving Outlet for Veteran QB
Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson remains in the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, but he should still carve out a role this season as a key pass-catching option for veteran starting quarterback Deshaun Watson. Sampson had 33 catches for 271 receiving yards (and just 175 rushing yards) as a rookie last year. For the most part, he operated behind fellow rookie Quinshon Judkins and mostly saw the field on passing downs. Judkins is expected to be the lead back once Week 1 comes around, so the big question is whether Sampson can have enough involvement to get on the weekly fantasy radar. It's not as simple as Judkins getting the early downs and Sampson getting the passing downs, as the former is a very capable pass catcher, and the latter does earn some carries from time to time, too. For now, Sampson has a little bit of RB3/flex appeal in deeper full-PPR leagues, but in all other formats, he's a better fit as a handcuff for fantasy managers who already have Judkins on their roster. Sampson is the RB53 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR and full-PPR draft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Quinshon Judkins Returns to Team Drills on Tuesday
Cleveland Browns second-year running back Quinshon Judkins (undisclosed) was back in team drills at training camp on Tuesday, according to Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Judkins was limited to individual drills on Monday in his first day back at practice following an undisclosed injury that he picked up last week. It remains to be seen if Judkins will be cleared to play in the team's preseason finale this Thursday against the New England Patriots, but even if he's not active, the 22-year-old Ohio State product should be just fine for the Week 1 season opener on Sunday, Sept. 13, against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The biggest thing holding back Judkins' fantasy value going into his second NFL season is the Browns' offense as a whole, which will be led by veteran quarterback Deshaun Watson, at least early on. After he was taken 36th overall in the second round last April, Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries across 14 games as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards through the air. With Dylan Sampson stealing valuable pass-game targets, Judkins should be considered a low-end RB2/high-end RB3/flex in his second season.
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Source: ESPN.com - Daniel Oyefusi
Quinshon Judkins Returns to Practice
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (undisclosed) returned to practice Monday, according to Daniel Oyefusi. Judkins missed the final two practices of last week and sat out Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo while dealing with what head coach Todd Monken called "a little something nagging." Monken said it was nothing significant and also made clear that the issue was unrelated to the extra contact Judkins took during Cleveland's Aug. 18 practice. His return Monday backs up that assessment, although his exact participation level wasn't immediately clear. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards. With the regular season still a few weeks away, getting him back on the field after a brief absence is a positive development for Cleveland's backfield.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Nick Chubb has Retired After Eight Seasons
According to Tom Pelissero, free-agent running back Nick Chubb has decided to retire from the NFL after eight seasons. Before his gruesome leg injury, Chubb was one of the most feared backs in the league. He earned four Pro Bowl appearances and second-team All-Pro honors during his playing time with the Cleveland Browns. He was selected in the second-round by Cleveland during the 2018 draft. He rushed for 7,349 yards, scoring 54 touchdowns, while snagging 141 receptions for 1,109 receiving yards, and five additional scores through the air. He spent most of his time with the Browns before playing with the Houston Texans in 2025. Best of luck to the 30-year-old on whatever he decides to do after football.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Quinshon Judkins Dealing with Minor Nagging Injury
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (undisclosed) is dealing with a nagging injury that head coach Todd Monken considers "minor." Judkins did not participate on Wednesday or during the team's joint practice with the Buffalo Bills on Thursday, but Monken did not sound too concerned about Judkins sitting out. The second-year back has practiced for most of training camp after suffering a gruesome leg injury late in the 2025 season. As a rookie, Judkins totaled 998 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns on 256 touches, averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, which was among the lowest in the NFL last season. If this "nagging injury" hampers Judkins early in the season, second-year backs Dylan Sampson and Raheim "Rocket" Sanders will take on a larger workload, though it appears Judkins should be fine for Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Source: Mary Kay Cabot
Quinshon Judkins Misses Second Straight Practice
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins was not practicing Thursday, his second straight absence, according to Daniel Oyefusi. Judkins also sat out Wednesday after working throughout camp up to that point. His absence began one day after a particularly physical Tuesday practice in which he took some extra contact, though Cleveland has not said the two are connected. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie, adding 26 catches for 171 yards. His season ended in Week 16 with a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula, but he recovered in time for full offseason work and had been participating normally this summer. Two missed practices in a row now make this more than a one-day maintenance note. Until Cleveland provides some context, Judkins' availability remains an open question.
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Source: Daniel Oyefusi
Quinshon Judkins Not Practicing Wednesday
Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (undisclosed) was not practicing Wednesday, according to ProFootballTalk. The absence comes one day after a physical Tuesday session in which defensive tackle Adin Huntington knocked Judkins to the ground during team work, drawing the ire of head coach Todd Monken. Jared Verse also got into Judkins on a later rep before Monken ended practice early. Cleveland has not tied Wednesday's absence to anything that happened Tuesday, so that connection shouldn't be assumed. Judkins led the Browns with 827 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 230 carries as a rookie before a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula ended his season in Week 16. He was back to full work during the offseason program and has been active throughout camp this summer. Cleveland entered camp with Judkins and Dylan Sampson leading the backfield, so any extended absence would matter. For now, though, Wednesday is simply a missed practice. UPDATE: The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports that Judkins is dealing with an undisclosed minor issue.
Source: ProFootballTalk
Source: ProFootballTalk
