McLaughlin’s last standout moment came with a 28-yard touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping the Browns secure a 27-24 win. He did not carry the ball in the following game versus the New York Jets. In four appearances, he has recorded two rushing attempts for 31 yards and a touchdown.
McLaughlin holds an NCAA rushing record from his college days, having amassed 8,166 rushing yards and 79 touchdowns across his time at Notre Dame College and Youngstown State, including surpassing 2,000 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons at Notre Dame College. He went undrafted in 2023 but joined the Denver Broncos, where he totaled 1,093 rushing yards and three touchdowns over three seasons, along with 59 receptions for 263 yards. His NFL experience provides Cleveland with a proven-depth option, even if his opportunities with the Browns have been limited so far.
Cleveland had been seeking more production from the backfield before injuries reduced available options. Judkins has 221 rushing yards and one touchdown on 73 carries through five games, averaging 3.0 yards per attempt. Raheim Sanders remains on injured reserve with a hip injury suffered against the Jets, and the Browns signed Audric Estime off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad to help fill the gap. Estime has 508 rushing yards and three touchdowns across 20 games, offering another option for head coach Todd Monken in his first week with the team.
Sampson returned to practice after the Browns opened his practice window but was ruled out for the upcoming game due to his knee injury, keeping him on injured reserve for at least another week. Judkins’ return provides Cleveland with hope of avoiding another running back absence, though his status remains in question.
Note: This summary focuses on the players’ health, depth, and performance context ahead of the Browns’ matchup with the Ravens.
