Browns move Raheim Sanders to injured reserve, add Audric Estime from Vikings practice squad

The Cleveland Browns made two running-back roster moves that will change their backfield availability. The club placed Raheim Sanders on injured reserve with a hip injury, and Cleveland simultaneously signed Audric Estime off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad, giving the Browns an additional option for depth and practice-week preparation.

For the Browns, the Sanders decision is significant because injured reserve removes the player from the active roster picture for the near term. Even when a running back is not the week-to-week primary option, the loss can affect carry distributions in practice, special teams reps, and the distribution of responsibilities across run schemes and pass-protection assignments.

Estime’s addition comes via Minnesota’s practice squad, a pathway that often reflects how NFL teams build organizational depth. Practice-squad players are eligible for promotion to an active roster by any club, so Cleveland’s move indicates the Browns viewed Estime as ready enough to contribute to the position group immediately.

From a roster-construction standpoint, signing a player from another team’s practice squad can also change how Cleveland manages the RB room during the week. The Browns now have another back they can evaluate for role fit, including how he handles protections and how quickly he can learn the team’s run-call cadence and protections.

While the transactions are clear, other details tied to playing time are not. The public reporting does not specify who will replace Sanders in any particular role, nor does it establish any timeline for return. That means Cleveland’s week-to-week usage will likely depend on how the active roster and remaining backs practice and how the team’s game plan develops.

What to watch next is whether Cleveland uses Estime primarily as a developmental piece who works with the starters in limited situational work, or whether he earns a larger role as a short-yardage and/or rotational option. The Browns’ backfield workload will also provide a practical read on who is next in line to absorb the reps vacated by Sanders’ IR designation.