Browns Make RB Move After Quinshon Judkins Update

Scott Galvin-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Browns Make RB Move After Quinshon Judkins Update

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Oct 12, 2026 7:31 PM ET

Todd Monken and the Cleveland Browns were never expected to threaten in the AFC North, with many pegging them at 5.5 wins, especially after Myles Garrett was traded to the Los Angeles Rams in June.

A 34-10 loss at Jacksonville seemed to confirm it, but three straight wins followed, each built on Deshaun Watson’s late-game drives, and Cleveland briefly held first place in the division. That run ended Sunday in heavy rain at MetLife Stadium, where Braelon Allen’s 22-yard touchdown with 3:01 left lifted the New York Jets to a 17-12 win.

Cleveland led in the fourth quarter on Watson’s 29-yard strike to rookie Denzel Boston, but its last drive ended without a first down, leaving the offense at a season-low 198 yards. The loss also put a spotlight on the backfield, where Quinshon Judkins is still searching for the form he showed as a rookie, when he ran for 827 yards and seven touchdowns before a dislocated ankle and a fractured fibula ended his season early.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and running back Quinshon Judkins doing “smoking” celebration.Ken Blaze - IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Through five games, the second-year back has 221 yards and one touchdown on 73 carries, a 3.0 average, and he played roughly half the offensive snaps against the Jets.

The running back left Sunday’s game in a walking boot on his right foot, but Monday brought some clarity, with Monken calling it an ankle “tweak” and listing him as day-to-day. That leaves the door open for him to play in Week 6, though it is the same ankle he dislocated last season.

Cleveland also made a roster move at the position that same day, signing Audric Estimé from the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad with Dylan Sampson still out because of a knee injury, h/t Jordan Schultz.

Sources: The #Browns are signing RB Audric Estime off the #Vikings practice squad to their 53-man roster.

The 23-year-old Estime brings 508 career rushing yards, 130 receiving yards and 3 TDs to Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/cN57eboBz3
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) October 12, 2026

The former Denver Broncos fifth-round pick ran for 310 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in Denver, then added 198 yards and another score across seven games with the New Orleans Saints last season. His best outing came in Week 17, when he rushed for 94 yards against the Tennessee Titans.

The Browns, now 3-2, will host the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens next Sunday at Huntington Bank Field, with kickoff set for 1 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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