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Browns add Discarded Denver Running Back to the Practice Squad
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- Browns add Discarded Denver Running Back to the Practice Squad
The Cleveland Browns continue to make tweaks to the roster ahead of the Week 1 opener on September 13 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and this likely isn't the final tweak. The team has signed running back Jaleel McLaughlin to the practice squad.
McLaughlin was unable to stick on the 53-man roster with head coach Sean Payton's Denver Broncos. The team had a crowded running backs room, but McLaughlin lands in Northeast Ohio with a much quicker track back to a meaningful role.
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Jaleel McLaughlin is a Player Capable of Catching the Ball
In addition to toting the rock, McLaughlin has soft hands, capable of helping his quarterback as a checkdown option on short and intermediate routes.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old, who will celebrate his birthday on the same date as the regular season opener, received an early gift by landing on the practice squad after being sacked by the Broncos. McLaughlin starred at nearby Youngstown State, an FCS school.
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The 5-foot-7, 187-pound tailback is shifty, and he has proven he can be productive when relied upon heavily. In his rookie season of 2023, McLaughlin rushed for 410 yards, and a career-best 5.4 yards per carry, while scoring a touchdown. He also had career bests with 31 receptions, 160 yards and two touchdowns out of the backfield.
In 2024, he had a career-best 113 carries and 496 yards, while averaging 4.4 yards per tote. He moved the chains 25 times, too, while also managed 24 receptions for 76 yards and two more scores.
However, the arrival of rookie RJ Harvey, and a healthy J.K. Dobbins, diminished McLaughlin's role, as did Payton's seemingly preference to use Tyler Badie. When the team added tailback Jonah Coleman in Round 4 of the 2026 NFL Draft, the writing was on the wall.
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McLaughlin is a Surprisingly Solid Move for Browns
The Browns haven't, traditionally, made a ton of smart moves in recent seasons. But, if there was a tremendous value off of the scrap heap, McLaughlin might have been the best player available. He has NFL experience, and he is essentially an insurance plan against Quinshon Judkins, who is coming back from a dislocated ankle and fractured fibula.
McLaughlin is also an insurance plan against Dylan Sampson, should be go down to injury. They're very similar players, with more of an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. McLaughlin might be one Judkins or Sampson injury away from a prominent role in The Land.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
