The Cleveland Browns are signing running back Audric Estime off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad and placing him on their 53-man roster, Jordan Schultz reported on Monday evening.
The move arrives a day after lead back Quinshon Judkins left MetLife Stadium in a walking boot following the 17-12 loss to the New York Jets. Head coach Todd Monken called Judkins day to day with an ankle injury on Monday and said he has a chance to play this week, but Cleveland now has a fresh option if he cannot go against the Baltimore Ravens. The Browns had not announced the signing or a corresponding roster move at the time of publication, and contract terms were not reported.
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
A fourth team in just over a year
Estime, 23, has moved around since the Denver Broncos took him in the fifth round, 147th overall, in 2024. He ran for 310 yards and two touchdowns on 76 carries as a rookie in Denver, which waived him in August 2025. He spent about six weeks on the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad before the New Orleans Saints signed him that October and promoted him to the active roster in November.
His best afternoon came for New Orleans in Week 17 last season, when he set a career high with 94 rushing yards and scored against the Tennessee Titans. A thigh injury in the Saints’ final preseason game this summer led to his release with an injury settlement on September 22, and Minnesota signed him to its practice squad on September 30.
Across 20 NFL games he has 508 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 122 carries, plus 17 receptions for 130 yards. At Notre Dame he set the school’s single-season record with 18 rushing touchdowns in 2023, when he ran for 1,341 yards.
Cleveland’s backfield
Judkins has carried most of the load this fall but has found little room, with 221 yards and one touchdown on 73 attempts through five games, roughly three yards a try. He managed 44 yards on 14 carries against the Jets. Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin are the other backs on hand, and Estime, a physical runner who can also catch and block, gives Monken another option alongside them while Judkins heals. The latest designations are on our injury page, and completed moves appear on our transactions page.
What comes next
The Browns, 3-2, host the Ravens on Sunday, October 18, at 1:00 p.m. EDT. Baltimore arrives at 4-1 after its overtime win in Atlanta. Cleveland’s first practice report of the week, due Wednesday, will show how much work Judkins can handle and how quickly Estime is folded into the plan.
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