Cleveland Browns may have lost more than just a game against the Jaguars with latest injury update
The Browns were beat badly by the Jaguars to start the season, and it looks like the Browns have one injury to worry about coming away from the game.
The Cleveland Browns were on the wrong side of a lopsided loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars to begin the 2026 NFL season. The Week 1 game was one the Browns lost 34-10, and Cleveland played badly on both sides of the ball. The only touchdown came in garbage time on a 46-yard deep ball from quarterback Deshaun Watson to wide receiver Denzel Boston.
Cleveland allowed 360 total yards to Jacksonville, and Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was an efficient 18-of-23 for 245 yards and four touchdown passes to begin the season. Those are numbers you aren’t going to win against very often.
Dylan Sampson exits with knee injury for Browns
Beyond the blowout, the Browns had a real injury concern coming out of this game. Running back Dylan Sampson, the team’s No. 2 back behind Quinshon Judkins, exited the game in the first half with a knee injury. Sampson was seen after the game on crutches with a brace around his knee, according to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
Sampson is more than just a complementary runner for Cleveland. He’s a major pass-catching threat out of the backfield and the team’s kickoff returner. The second-year back out of Tennessee only had 175 rushing yards last season, but he added 271 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He’s a player the Browns like to get in space and utilize, and if he’s going to miss any time, he will be missed in the Browns offense.
To be honest, the Browns missed him some in Week 1 when he was out of the game.
Cleveland went to Raheim Sanders with Sampson sidelined as the second running back, and the drop-off was noticeable.
Browns await update on Dylan Sampson’s status
After the game, coach Todd Monken did not have an update on where things stand with Sampson. The Browns are more likely to get an update to begin the week as the team prepares for its next matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For now, Cleveland will hold its breath on its second-year running back.
The loss itself was ugly from start to finish, and a potential Sampson absence only adds to the concerns. The Browns need to regroup quickly, and the next few days will be telling on just how much of a hit their backfield depth takes.
