According to 850 ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi, who covers the Cleveland Browns, former Denver Broncos running back Jaleel McLaughlin has signed to the Cleveland Browns' practice squad.
McLaughlin was waived by the Broncos on Sunday and, surprisingly, went unclaimed on the waiver wire. He was not among the 17 players the Broncos signed to their practice squad and remained unsigned until today. The former Broncos back was a standout at Notre Dame and Youngstown State, both in Ohio, so it makes sense for McLaughlin to land in Cleveland.
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He joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent during the 2023 NFL Draft and quickly made a strong impression on the coaching staff. A strong performance in the preseason helped McLaughlin make the Broncos' 53-man roster, and he became a key member of their offense moving forward. He would go on to appear in 41 games for the Broncos and total 226 rushing attempts for 1,093 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, as well as 59 receptions for 263 yards and 4 touchdowns.
After the Broncos drafted rookie Jonah Coleman in the 4th round, McLaughlin's roster spot was in danger. He was already inactive for a handful of games last season and only saw some playing time after veteran JK Dobbins went down with an injury. As the preseason went on, it became clear that McLaughlin looked unlikely to make the team, and ultimately, according to Head Coach Sean Payton, it came down to the kicking game.
"Yes, you guys all saw the preseason. All of those guys really played well. The edge goes in the kicking game, which is important. We were still able to end up with five, but I think so much of this final equation comes down to special teams as we're trying to project a vision when it's close."
The Broncos kept four running backs on their 53-man roster. Veteran JK Dobbins, second-year back RJ Harvey, rookie Jonah Coleman, and special teams/third down guy Tyler Badie. They also signed preseason star Cody Schrader to their practice squad.
McLaughlin will join a Cleveland Browns backfield that features second-year back Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson, as well as Raheim Sanders. If an injury were to occur, it appears that McLaughlin would be the next man up for the Browns.
